Trained immunity in newborn infants of HBV-infected mothers

Michelle Hong, Elena Sandalova, Diana Low, Adam J. Gehring, Stefania Fieni, Barbara Amadei, Simonetta Urbani, Yap-Seng Chong, Ernesto Guccione and Antonio Bertoletti ()
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Michelle Hong: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Elena Sandalova: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Diana Low: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Adam J. Gehring: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Stefania Fieni: UOC Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma
Barbara Amadei: UO Immunoematologia e Medicina Trasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma
Simonetta Urbani: UO Immunoematologia e Medicina Trasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma
Yap-Seng Chong: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Ernesto Guccione: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Antonio Bertoletti: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The newborn immune system is characterized by an impaired Th1-associated immune response. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmitted from infected mothers to newborns is thought to exploit the newborns’ immune system immaturity by inducing a state of immune tolerance that facilitates HBV persistence. Contrary to this hypothesis, we demonstrate here that HBV exposure in utero triggers a state of trained immunity, characterized by innate immune cell maturation and Th1 development, which in turn enhances the ability of cord blood immune cells to respond to bacterial infection in vitro. These training effects are associated with an alteration of the cytokine environment characterized by low IL-10 and, in most cases, high IL-12p40 and IFN-α2. Our data uncover a potentially symbiotic relationship between HBV and its natural host, and highlight the plasticity of the fetal immune system following viral exposure in utero.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7588

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