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Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2007; 13(26): 3625-3630
Published online Jul 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i26.3625
Relationship of hepatitis B virus infection of placental barrier and hepatitis B virus intra-uterine transmission mechanism
Han Bai, Lin Zhang, Li Ma, Xiao-Guang Dou, Guo-He Feng, Gui-Zhen Zhao
Han Bai, Lin Zhang, Li Ma, Xiao-Guang Dou, Guo-He Feng, Gui-Zhen Zhao, Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to CMU, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the science foundation of Liaoning Province, No. 9910500706
Correspondence to: Xiao-Guang Dou, Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to CMU, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province,China. douxg@cmu2h.com
Telephone: +86-24-83956961 Fax: +86-24-83956451
Received: March 27, 2007
Revised: March 29, 2007
Accepted: April 16, 2007
Published online: July 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To explore the mechanism of intra-uterine transmission, the HBV infection status of placental tissue and in vitro cultured placental trophoblastic cells was tested through in vivo and in vitro experiments.

METHODS: A variety of methods, such as ELISA, RT-PCR, IHC staining and immunofluorescent staining were employed to test the HBV marker positive pregnant women's placenta and in vitro cultured placental trophoblastic cells.

RESULTS: The HBV DNA levels in pregnant women's serum and fetal cord blood were correlated. For those cord blood samples positive for HBV DNA, their maternal blood levels of HBV DNA were at a high level. The HBsAg IHC staining positive cells could be seen in the placental tissues and the presence of HBV DNA detected. After co-incubating the trophoblastic cells and HBV DNA positive serum in vitro, the expressions of both HBsAg and HBV DNA could be detected.

CONCLUSION: The mechanism of HBV intra-uterine infection may be due to that HBV breaches the placental barrier and infects the fetus.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Infection; Intra-uterine transmission; Mechanism