FIG. 10.

Effect of 2.0 μM 3TC treatment on CCC HBV DNA accumulation in HepG2 cells with respect to the time of initiation of treatment. Cultures of HepG2 cells were infected with HBV baculovirus at an MOI of 200 PFU of HBV baculovirus/cell and were treated with 2.0 μM 3TC. 3TC treatment was initiated either 16 h prior to HBV baculovirus infection (P) or 4 days p.i. (T*); untreated HepG2 cells (U) were also examined for comparative purposes. CCC HBV DNA was extracted from each treatment group and analyzed by Southern blotting at 4, 7, and 10 days p.i. (A). RC and CCC forms of HBV DNA are indicated. The percentages of HBV RC DNA and the percentages of CCC HBV DNA present in treated cultures relative to untreated control cultures are indicated. Extracellular HBV DNA was also extracted from the medium exposed to each culture for 24 h on days 4, 7, and 10 days p.i. and analyzed by Southern analysis (B). RC and DS forms of HBV DNA are indicated. The percentages of extracellular HBV DNA produced by treated cultures relative to untreated controls are indicated.