[Role of HMGB1 in rheumatic diseases].
High mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1) is originally identified as a DNA-binding protein that functions as a structural co-factor. HMGB1 is actively secreted by macrophage/monocytes via inflammatory stimuli. The extracellular HMGB-1 acts as a mediator of acute and chronic systematic inflammation. In this article we briefly review its role in rheumatic diseases: arthritis, polymyositis and dermatomyositis, lupus erythematosus and Sjogren's syndrome. Increased cytoplasmic expression and extracellular deposition of HMGB1 are found in the affected tissues of those diseases, especially stronger in/around focal infiltrates of mononuclear cells. TNFalpha and IL-1beta are co-expressed in areas of extracellular HMGB1. HMGB1 together with TNF alpha and IL-1beta may form a proinflammatory loop promoting the chronic inflammations. The new findings of HMGB1 as a cytokine provide a better understanding of rheumatiod diseases, and could become a clinically relevant therapeutic target that might be more efficient than other known cytokines.
Zhou
Jian-guang
JG
Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Zheng
Min
M
D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D024243:HMGB1 Protein; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha