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 β chain variable region (Vβ) 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 Vβ.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 Vβ5.1 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 Vβ 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 Vβ 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 . (H EPATOLOGY 1995; 22:1034–1039.).