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Published on: February 1, 2017
[Relationship between the expression of HBV mRNA in embryos and father-to-infant HBV transmission]
Feng Ye1, Shu-Mei Lin, Yan Jin
1Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
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.
Conclusion:
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.
Insights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) mRNA was detected in one IVF embryo from a father with HBV, suggesting sperm can transmit the virus to early embryos. This may lead to embryo development issues and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Virology
- Genetics
Context:
- Paternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a concern for vertical transmission.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) offers a unique model to study early embryonic exposure.
Purpose:
- To investigate the potential for father-to-infant transmission of HBV via sperm in IVF embryos.
- To detect HBV mRNA in early-stage embryos conceived via IVF from fathers with chronic HBV infection.
Summary:
- HBV mRNA was detected in 1 out of 18 discarded IVF embryos from fathers with chronic HBV infection using single-cell RT-PCR.
- No HBV mRNA was found in 84 control embryos.
- The single positive embryo resulted in early abortion, though no significant difference in pregnancy or abortion rates was observed compared to controls.
Impact:
- Findings suggest that HBV can enter and replicate within early-cleavage embryos through sperm.
- This transmission route may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including embryo development interference and abortion.
- Further research is needed to confirm the role of sperm in HBV transmission and its clinical implications.
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