title: An "immune barrier" is formed in the placenta by hepatitis B immunoglobulin to protect the fetus from hepatitis B virus infection from the mother.
abstract: The effect of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) on hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA load and its protective mechanism are not well understood. Twenty-eight hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive pregnant women and their newborns were assigned to an experimental (n = 12) or control group (n = 16) according to whether they received HBIG during pregnancy. HBV DNA load and markers titer of the mothers and newborns were tested. These markers and HBV DNA load in mothers of the experimental group did not fluctuate significantly and were comparable to the control. In the experimental group, there was a positive correlation between mothers and their newborns with regard to hepatitis B surface antibody titer. Immunohistochemical staining of placenta sections showed that HBsAg-positive areas mainly included trophoblastic cells and villous mesenchymal cells without HBIG colocalization, whereas HBIG-positive areas principally included villous capillary endothelial cells and villous mesenchymal cells. Additionally, compared with the control group, the positive rate and mean density of HBIG in the experimental group were remarkably higher. HBIG deposition was seen in Hofbauer cells. Thus, rather than influencing virus replication, HBIG forms an immune barrier between the mother and fetus to prevent HBV transmission.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases ; the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College; Xi'an Jiaotong University ; Xi'an , Shaanxi Province , China.
authors.forename: Jinfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xuelan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Dongfang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yingli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Xuebin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Taotao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Tianyan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yingren
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: HBV; hepatitis B immunoglobulin; immune barrier; intrauterine infection; placenta; virus replication