Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China.
Hum Reprod. 2011 Jul;26(7):1860-7. doi: 10.1093/humrep/der103. Epub 2011 Apr 12.
The objective of this study was to explore the potential for vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from parents to offspring via human germ cells.
For study samples, 250 oocytes from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seropositive women and 578 embryos from couples with at least one HBsAg seropositive partner were collected. HBV DNA in the nuclei of oocytes and embryos was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization; HBsAg expression was analysed using immunofluorescence; and serum HBV DNA levels were measured by real-time PCR. The HBV infection duration of the women and the serum HBsAg status of their mothers were also examined.
HBV DNA was present in 9.6% (24/250) of oocytes and 14.4% (83/578) of embryos. Rates of HBV DNA positive embryos were similar among couples in which the woman, man or both partners were HBsAg seropositive, 13.1% (57/436), 21.3% (16/75) and 14.9% (10/67), respectively. Rates of positivity in oocytes and embryos were significantly higher in a group with high serum levels HBV DNA than in a group with lower serum levels (P= 0.004 and P= 0.002, respectively). Higher rates of oocyte positivity were found for women whose mothers were HBV infected compared with those with uninfected mothers. Expression of HBsAg was observed in 8.7% (2/28) oocytes and 14.1% (10/71) embryos (P= 0.34).
The presence of HBV DNA in human oocytes or embryos was related to the women's serum levels of HBV DNA and the infection status of their mothers. The HBV positive embryos were either maternally or paternally dependent. HBV infection may result in vertical transmission to the offspring via germ cells.
本研究旨在探讨乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）是否可通过人类生殖细胞从父母垂直传播给后代。
本研究采集了 250 枚 HBsAg 阳性妇女的卵母细胞和 578 枚来自至少一方 HBsAg 阳性夫妇的胚胎作为研究样本。通过荧光原位杂交检测卵母细胞和胚胎细胞核内的 HBV DNA；免疫荧光法分析 HBsAg 表达；实时 PCR 法检测血清 HBV DNA 水平。还检测了妇女的 HBV 感染时间和其母亲的血清 HBsAg 状态。
250 枚卵母细胞中有 9.6%（24 枚）和 578 枚胚胎中有 14.4%（83 枚）存在 HBV DNA。HBsAg 阳性妇女、男性和双方均为 HBsAg 阳性的夫妇中 HBV DNA 阳性胚胎的比例分别为 13.1%（57/436）、21.3%（16/75）和 14.9%（10/67），差异无统计学意义。高血清 HBV DNA 水平组的卵母细胞和胚胎 HBV DNA 阳性率显著高于低血清 HBV DNA 水平组（P=0.004 和 P=0.002）。HBV 感染母亲的妇女卵母细胞 HBV DNA 阳性率更高。28 枚卵母细胞中有 8.7%（2 枚）和 71 枚胚胎中有 14.1%（10 枚）表达 HBsAg（P=0.34）。
卵母细胞或胚胎中存在 HBV DNA 与妇女的血清 HBV DNA 水平及其母亲的感染状态有关。HBV 阳性胚胎可能来自于母源性或父源性依赖。HBV 感染可能通过生殖细胞垂直传播给后代。
