Table 2.

In vitro models for HDV infection.

Model	Entry	Repli-Cation	Progeny Release	Pros	Cons	Ref.
Transfected HuH7	−	+	+ 1	Easy access/handling	Does not reflect authentic infection	[42,43,44,45]
PHH	+	+	+ 2	Natural host; most physiological	Limited availability; High donor-to-donor variability	[39,40,41]
HepaRG	+	+	+ 2	Exhibit some hepatic function; fully support innate immunity	Requires elaborate differentiation protocol; only hepatocyte-like cells are susceptible	[46]
HuH7/HepG2-hNTCP	+	+	+ 2	Easy access/handling; efficient infection	Only partially resemble hepatocytes	[13]
Stem-cell derived hepatocytes	+	+	?	Same donor can be used for different experiments; physiologically close to PHH	Requires elaborate differentiation protocol; ethical concerns in some countries	[47,48,49,50,51]

¹ when co-transfected with a plasmid encoding HBsAg; ² when co-infected with HBV. PHH: primary human hepatocytes.