Study on the relationship between IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-6 in HBsAg positive pregnant women to intrauterine infection of hepatitis B virus

Objective: To study on the relationship between intrauterine infection of hepatitis B virus and IL-4,IL-6 and IFN-γ cytokines. Methods: The pregnant women were divided into two groups:80 cases with positive HBsAg were included in the study group, the control group included 20 cases of normal pregnant women. By using diantibody sandwich enzyme linked immuneosorbant assay (DAS-ELISA),the serum HBVM,IFN-γ,IL-4,and IL-6 levels in maternal and neonates were determined respectively. Results: In the study group, the incidence of HBV intrauterine infection was 13.75%(11/80).The IFN-γ levels of the pregnant women with intrauterine infection were significantly lower than those without intrauterine infection and control group (P0.01),IL-4,IL-6 levels was contrary to IFN-γ(P0.01). There had no significant difference of IFN-γ,IL-4,IL-6 levels between women without intrauterine infection and control group (P0.05) .The positive correlation existed between IL-4and IL-6 levels among each group (P0.01),IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were negatively correlated, and so were IFN-γ and IL-6 levels(P0.01),No significant difference of IFN -γ,IL-4,IL-6 levels as found among in newborns group (P0.05).Conclusion: There is imbalance of TH1/TH2 cells in pregnant women, which causes IFN-γ activities decrease, and the activity of IL-4,IL-6 increases. Thus the antiviral responses of IFN-γ are inhibited,resulting higher incidence of intrauterine infection.