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The Role of Hepatitis B Core-Related Antigen

Takako Inoue1, Yasuhito Tanaka2,3

  • 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Nagoya City University Hospital, Nagoya 467-8602, Japan. clinoue@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp.

Genes
|May 12, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) is a novel biomarker for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Decreasing HBcrAg levels predict successful treatment outcomes and disease progression in CHB patients.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence is linked to intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA).
  • Serological biomarkers offer non-invasive assessment of viral activity, complementing liver biopsies.
  • Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) correlates with HBV DNA and cccDNA, serving as a key marker in chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical applications of HBcrAg in CHB patients.
  • To highlight HBcrAg's role in predicting treatment responses and disease progression.
  • To discuss HBcrAg's utility in monitoring novel anti-HBV therapies targeting cccDNA.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on HBcrAg in CHB.
  • Analysis of HBcrAg's correlation with virological markers (HBV DNA, cccDNA).
  • Evaluation of HBcrAg's predictive value for clinical outcomes and treatment responses.

Main Results:

  • HBcrAg levels decrease significantly with favorable outcomes in CHB patients.
  • HBcrAg predicts HBeAg seroconversion, sustained responses to therapy, and HBV reactivation.
  • HBcrAg is valuable for assessing risks of hepatocellular carcinoma and post-transplant recurrence.

Conclusions:

  • HBcrAg is a valuable non-invasive biomarker for CHB management.
  • Monitoring HBcrAg aids in predicting disease progression and treatment efficacy.
  • HBcrAg may serve as a surrogate marker for evaluating new therapies targeting cccDNA.

Keywords:
HBV DNAchronic hepatitis B (CHB)covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA)hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg)hepatitis B virus (HBV)

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