TUBB1 promoter methylation is a promising biomarker for predicting HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B

Previous studies emphasized hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion (HBeAg SC) as a milestone for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remission associated with reduced disease progression risks. While the significance of HBeAg SC is widely recognized, reliable non-invasive predictors for achieving this endpoint remain limited. Additionally, in our previous studies, DNA methylation of key regulatory genes has been linked to CHB progression. However, the association between TUBB1 promoter methylation and HBeAg SC, as well as its potential as a biomarker for clinical application, has not been fully elucidated. We demonstrated that TUBB1 promoter methylation levels were significantly higher in HBeAg-positive patients and that decreased methylation levels were independently associated with subsequent HBeAg SC during a 72-week follow-up. Our findings underscore the potential clinical utility of TUBB1 promoter methylation as a non-invasive biomarker for predicting HBeAg SC. This study provides strong evidence supporting the role of TUBB1 promoter methylation in predicting HBeAg SC, offering a novel biomarker for monitoring CHB.