High mobility group box-1 protein – one step closer to the clinic?

Tom Eirik Mollnes¹^,2

¹Institute of Immunology, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Sognsvannsv. 20, NO-0027 Oslo, Norway

²University of Tromsø, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Prinsensgt. 164, NO-8092 Bodø, Norway

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2008, 12:168doi:10.1186/cc6944


Published:	17 July 2008

See related research by Kornblit et al., http://ccforum.com/content/12/3/R83

Abstract

High mobility group box (HMGB)1, originally described as a nuclear protein that binds to and modifies DNA, is now regarded as a central mediator of inflammation by acting as a cytokine. HMGB1 is postulated to be particularly important as a late acting mediator of lethal septicaemia in mice. Furthermore, it has been suggested that HMGB1 plays a role in clinical conditions such as autoimmunity, acute ischaemia-reperfusion injury, cardiovascular disease and cancer. HMGB1 has emerged as a candidate for therapeutic intervention in various disease conditions. However, further basic and clinical studies are warranted to confirm the roles played by HMGB1 in clinical medicine.