The influence of a maternal chronic hepatitis B virus infection on the repertoire of transcribed T-cell receptor beta chain variable region genes in human cord blood.
We used an anchor polymerase chain reaction method to compare the repertoires of transcribed T-cell receptor beta chain variable region (V beta) genes in cord blood T cells from neonates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive (n = 40) and HBsAg negative (n = 40) women. Fifteen of the HBsAg positive women were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive, and 25 were HBeAg negative. The percentage of V beta 7.4 transcripts was lower in cord blood T cells from neonates of HBsAg-positive relative to HBsAg-negative women (9.7% +/- 0.5% vs. 12.7% +/- 0.6%, P = .002). The percent of V beta 5.1 transcripts was higher in cord blood T cells from neonates of HBeAg-positive relative to HBeAg-negative women (9.3% +/- 0.7% vs. 7.0% +/- 0.3%, P < .001). There were no correlations between neonatal maturity at birth and V beta repertoire. In summary, a maternal chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with changes in the repertoire of transcribed T-cell receptor genes in neonatal cord blood T cells. It is possible that the T-cell response to the HBV is associated with a limited repertoire of V beta genes. The mechanism of vertical chronic HBV infection in human neonates may involve changes in the T-cell response to the virus that are induced in utero.
Abbott
W G
WG
Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Grafton, New Zealand.
Geursen
A
A
Fraser
J D
JD
Marbrook
J
J
Skinner
M A
MA
Tan
P L
PL
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011114:Polynesia; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta