Hepatitis B virus-infected HepG2^hNTCP cells serve as a novel immunological tool to analyze the antiviral efficacy of CD8⁺ T cells in vitro

CD8⁺ T cells are the main effector lymphocytes in the control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, limitations of model systems, such as low infection rates, restrict mechanistic studies of HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells. Here, we established a novel immunological cell culture model based on HBV-infected HepG2^hNTCP cells that endogenously processed viral antigens and presented them to HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells. This induced cytolytic and noncytolytic CD8⁺ T-cell effector functions and reduction of viral loads.