Novel biomarkers for the management of chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Journal
Hepatitis B Virus and Liver Disease
ISBN
9789811636158
Date Issued
2021-08-23
Author(s)
Lin, Chih Lin
Abstract
On the basis of innovations in molecular medicine and genomics, several novel hepatitis B viral and host biomarkers associated with diagnosis and disease progression of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have been elucidated. For large-scale screening of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), point-of-care tests provide simple and rapid methods for HBV detection. Regarding the monitoring of CHB progression, hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) and HBV RNA are positively correlated with intrahepatic cccDNA. The serum HBcrAg level is a predictor of cirrhosis and HCC development, whereas HBV RNA is associated with the response of antiviral therapy and can serve as a biomarker to predict viral relapse after discontinuation of antiviral therapy. Total anti-HBc level may reflect the host immune response to HBV infection and is significantly correlated with the severity of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis as well as HBsAg seroclearance. For hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance, Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) is associated with HCC development in treatment-naive patients and at virological remission in those on antiviral therapy. Finally, the circulating cell-free DNA or virus-host chimeric DNA and microRNAs play a functional role in hepatocarcinogenesis and have a high predictive value in the diagnosis of HBV-related HCC. In conclusion, these novel biomarkers help clinicians monitor the natural course and treatment response of CHB. The combination of novel and already in use biomarkers will improve the ability of early diagnosis and prognostic prediction of HBV-related HCC.
Subjects
Chronic hepatitis B | Circulating cell-free virus-host chimeric DNA | HBcrAg | HBV RNA | M2BPGi | MicroRNA | Total anti-HBc
SDGs
Type
book part