Relationship between the expression of HBV mRNA in embryos and father-to-infant HBV transmission / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate father-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by detecting HBV mRNA in the IVF embryos with paternal HBV infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>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.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>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.</p>