Hepatitis B virus core antibody (anti-HBc) (anti-HBc)

Hepatitis B virus core antibody (anti-HBc) is an immunoglobulin produced by the host's immune system in response to the presence of the Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) (CDC, 2023). It serves as a vital clinical biomarker for identifying individuals who have been exposed to the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), distinguishing between acute, chronic, and resolved states (Mayo Clinic, 2024). There are two main types: IgM anti-HBc, which indicates a recent acute infection, and IgG anti-HBc, which typically persists for life after exposure (StatPearls, 2023). Unlike the Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), anti-HBc does not confer protective immunity or neutralization against the virus (WHO, 2023). In the context of drug development, anti-HBc is not a therapeutic target but rather a diagnostic tool used to screen patients, monitor disease progression, or identify occult HBV infection (PubMed, 2021). Therapeutic efforts in this pathway typically focus on the Hepatitis B virus core protein itself, using capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) to disrupt viral replication (Journal of Hepatology, 2022). Consequently, the antibody is used to stratify patients in clinical trials and monitor for potential reactivation during immunosuppressive therapy rather than being the site of drug action (NIH, 2023).

Other names

Anti-HBcHBcAbAntibody to Hepatitis B core antigenTotal anti-HBc

Not applicable; anti-HBc is an endogenous antibody used as a diagnostic biomarker and is not a target for therapeutic drugs.