Integration pattern of hepatitis B virus DNA sequences in human hepatoma cell lines

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Abstract
Four human hepatoma cell lines established from primary hepatocellular carcinomas were examined for the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA sequences. Reassociation kinetic analysis indicated that the cell lines HEp-3B 217, HEp-3B 14, HEp-3B F1 and PLC/PRF/5 contained 2, 1, 1 and 4 genome equivalents/cell, respectively. Southern blot hybridization analysis demonstrated that hepatitis B virus DNA was integrated into the cellular DNA of these cell lines. Further liquid hybridization studies with 32P-labeled HincII restriction fragments of hepatitis B virus DNA established that DNA sequences from all regions of the HBV genome were represented in the integrated viral sequences. Although the 3 HEp-3B cell lines were derived from the same tumor, they differed significantly in their patterns of integration of hepatitis B virus DNA, the number of copies of viral DNA per cell and their ability to produce the virus-coded surface antigen.