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The transplacental route of vertical transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) has been known for over a decade. Here we present evidence which suggest HBV can replicate in placenta. Forty-one HBsAg positive and 10 control pregnant women were enrolled in the study after obtaining informed consent. HBV positives were further divided in the High Viral Load (HVL) Group and Low Viral Load (LVL) Group according to INASL guidelines 2018. The Presence of the HBV DNA and expression of NTCP in the placenta was analyzed by qPCR/RT-qPCR and/or immunohistochemistry (IHC). The presence of cccDNA was assessed using Digital Droplet PCR while the presence of pre-genomic (pg) RNA was assessed through qRT-PCR and sequencing. The presence of HBeAg and HBcAg in the placenta was assessed by IHC. Immunostaining of NTCP, HBeAg and HBcAg on trophoblasts along with the presence of total HBV DNA, cccDNA and pgRNA indicated, that these cells are not only susceptible to HBV infection but may also support viral replication. This is further supported by the finding that trophoblasts of the several HBeAg seronegative samples harbored the HBeAg. Although, we did not find any correlation in NTCP expression and viral markers with viral load indicates placental replication may not aping hepatocytes. The presence of the HBV receptor, NTCP along with the presence of cccDNA, pgRNA, and HBeAg in placenta of HBV infected females without circulating HBeAg suggest that placenta act as a replication host.

HE4 is a secretory protein. It is expressed in reproductive tract and respiratory epithelium in normal individuals. Serum level of HE4 is raised in various solid cancers that give us an advantage to use it as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. It is an established biomarker of epithelial ovarian cancer [EOC]. It has also shown the significance in various other malignancies like cancer of endometrium, cervix, lung and breast. Studies show HE4 as an independent prognostic biomarker in non-small cell lung carcinoma. Its raised values in cancer signify its role in oncogenesis. HE4 promotes angiogenesis via STAT3 signalling pathway. In this paper we have tried to illustrate about human epididymis protein 4 and its role in tumour angiogenesis.

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