125 DESPITE PERSISTENT HIGH PLASMA LEVELS PEGYLATED INTERFERON-ALPHA ONLY TRANSIENTLY INDUCES INTERFERON STIMULATED GENES IN THE LIVER OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

replication of HCVRNA could be inhibited by the addition of 10mM HCV-796 (97.9% inhibition) or 1mM VX-950 (74.2% inhibition). Albumin, ApoB100 and HCV core protein were detected in the supernatants of infected hepatic progeny at a relatively constant rate over time, indicating a stable replication, while supernatants from infected cultures could infect naive Huh7.5.1 cells. Conclusions: Complete HCV replication including the production of infectious virus is possible in hepatocytes derived from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, as well as inhibition of viral replication using direct antivirals. This system might be used as a tool to investigate the efficacy and safety of new antiviral drugs.