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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
Author(s) -
Abbott William G. H.,
Geursen Arie,
Fraser John D.,
Marbrook John,
Skinner Margot A.,
Tan Paul L. J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840220404
Subject(s) - hbsag , hbeag , cord blood , hepatitis b virus , immunology , virology , antigen , medicine , virus , biology , hepatitis b , hepatitis
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.).