Hepatitis C Virus Infected Human Megakaryocytes and Platelets: Intra-and Extracellular Evaluation

This study aimed to determine whether the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects human megakaryocytes and platelets and to measure the expression of receptors involved in virus-cell interaction. Platelets from healthy donors were infected with HCV in vitro and analyzed for viral expression and the receptors claudin-1 and cluster of differentiation 81 (CD81). HCV was detected on the surface and cytoplasm of both cells; cytoplasmic expression was higher compared to the surface. Platelets presented a claudin-1+/CD81-phenotype, and megakaryocytes showed aclaudin-1+/CD81+ phenotype. We conclude that megakaryocytes and platelets are susceptible to HCV infection, regardless of CD81 expression, and megakaryocytes may serve as possible sites of viral replication.