For example, binding of cell cultureHCV particles (HCVcc) to both primary human hepatocyte (PHH) cellsor antibody-mediated cross-linking of CD81 induces EGFR activation,which is required for HCV clathrin-mediated endocytosis.77,78 While incubation of Huh-7.5 cells with EGFR ligands epidermal growthfactor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α)showed a higher infection rate by inducing EGFR internalization andcolocalization with CD81, it did not have any effect on HCVcc infectionif ligands were added after the viral genome had entered cells. This evidence concerns the gene CD81 and infection.