Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the expression of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in human ovary and placenta and the vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV).Methodology/Principal FidningsOvarian and placental tissue specimens of pregnant women infected with HBV were collected during cesarean section and immunostained for HBsAg. The sera of the corresponding newborns were tested for HBV markers and HBV DNA. HBsAg was detected in 15 out of 33 (45%) placental tissues and was further detected in capillary endothelial cells in 4 specimens (26%), of which 3 (75%) corresponding infants were infected with HBV in utero. Out of the 33 ovarian tissues, 7 (21%) were positive for HBsAg, of which 2 (28%) showed HBsAg in ovarian follicles and the 2 corresponding infants (100%) had intrauterine HBV infection.Conclusions/SignificanceHBsAg expression in cells of the ovarian follicle or placental capillary endothelium signal a higher risk for intrauterine HBV infection.
Highlights
Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered the main route of spread of HBV in areas where it is prevalent
It was observed that the number of HBV-infected cells decreased across the placenta from maternal end to fetal end, while the occurrence of intrauterine infection in the infant was correlated to the HBV positivity in placenta on the fetal end, i.e. the higher the rate of infected cells in placenta on the fetal end, the higher was the risk of intrauterine infection [8,9,10]
We investigated the mechanism of vertical transmission of HBV, and in particular, the possibility of transmission from oocyte, in a clinical setting
Summary
Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered the main route of spread of HBV in areas where it is prevalent. The transmission from mother to infant by the latter two modes can be blocked by treating the infant with either HBV vaccine or anti-HBV immunoglobulin immediately after birth. Despite these measures 5–10% infants fail to acquire immunity [1,2,3], which is mainly attributed to intrauterine infection. The mechanism of genetic transmission, though controversial and unclear yet, refers to a HBV-infected oocyte fertilized by a healthy sperm, that develops into an embryo in which HBV continues to replicate during embryonic development, resulting in the infant being a congenital HBV carrier, and a high risk of early onset hepatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the expression of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in human ovary and placenta and the vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV)
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