OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to explore the frequency of mDC and pDC and expression of surface markers of the neonates and to discuss the effect of different status of HBV infection of mother on biological characteristics of DC.

METHODSUmbilicus cord blood in neonates of HBeAg positive HBV infected mother, HBeAg negative HBV infected mother, and normal mother were collected respectively; peripheral blood of healthy adults were selected as control group. Flow cytometry was employed to detect frequency of the mDC and its expression of CD86, frequency of pDC and its expression of CD80, CD83, CD86, and FlowJo software was used to compare these indicators among the groups.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the frequency of mDC of cord blood (0.29 +/- 0.16 vs 0.81 +/- 0.17), CD86 positive rate of mDC (10.72 +/- 10.01 vs 32.13 +/- 7.46), the frequency of pDC (0.15 +/- 0.07 vs 0.30 +/- 0.07), and CD86/CD83 positive rate of pDC (31.61 +/- 12.81 vs 74.96 +/- 9.78; 42.66 +/- 20.83 vs 82.00 +/- 6.94) were lower (t = -7.86, P = 0.00; t = -5.36, P = 0.00; t = -5.43, P = 0.00; t = -8.49. P = 0.00; t = -4.90, P = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONSThe frequency of mDC and pDC in umbilical cord blood was lower than the peripheral blood of healthy adult, which was the possible mechanism of newborns easier to chronicity after the infection of hepatitis B virus. A significant correlation was found between different status of HBV infection and costimulatory molecule CD86 positive rate of mDC, but not for the frequency of mDC and pDC, and the expression of pDC molecules.