Hepatitis B virus core-related antigen: A promising new serum marker for hepatitis B virus / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B virus core-related antigen (HBcrAg) is a new serum biomarker for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and is composed of several antigens encoded by the pre-C/C region gene of HBV, including HBcAg, HBeAg, and P22cr precursor protein. There is a poor correlation between HBcrAg and HBsAg and they cannot replace each other. Serum HBcrAg level can reflect the content and transcriptional activity of cccDNA in hepatocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis B, as well as the transcriptional activity of integrated HBV DNA. In addition, HBcrAg can be used to evaluate the antiviral effect of nucleos(t)ide analogues and pegylated interferon- and predict recurrence risk after withdrawal of nucleos(t)ide analogues and the development risk and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgery. Therefore, serum HBcrAg is a promising new serum marker for HBV.