title: [Relationship between the expression of HBV mRNA in embryos and father-to-infant HBV transmission].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate father-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by detecting HBV mRNA in the IVF embryos with paternal HBV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected 18 discarded IVF embryos (9 cases) with paternal chronic HBV infection, and detected HBV mRNA in the embryos by single-cell RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBV mRNA positive signals were found in 1 of the 18 embryos with paternal serum HBV positive markers (5.6%), but no specific HBV mRNA signals were observed in the 84 embryos of the negative control group. Follow-up visits revealed no significant difference between the experimental and negative control groups either in the rate of clinical pregnancy (P > 0.05) or in that of early abortion (P > 0.05). The IVF embryo with paternal HBV mRNA positive signals was successfully implanted, but early abortion occurred. HBV infection was not transmitted to progeny in either of the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The positive results of HBV mRNA indicate that HBV can get into early-cleavage embryos through sperm and replicate there, which may be the main channel of father-to-infant transmission. HBV may interfere with the development of embryos, and even result in abortion and other adverse outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Shu-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Juan-Zi
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Hong-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Ying-Ren
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Tian-Yan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shu-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000821:virology*; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral