title: High-mobility group protein B1: a new biomarker of metabolic syndrome in obese children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is associated with a chronic low-grade inflammation. High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) plays a key role in inflammation and immunostimulatory and chemotactic processes. The aim of the study was to assess the role of HMGB1 in obese children and to evaluate its diagnostic profile in identifying childhood obesity-related complications, such as the metabolic syndrome (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty obese children were enrolled and compared with 40 healthy children (control). Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profile, thyroid hormones, and pro- and anti-inflammatory peptides such as C-reactive protein (CRP), adiponectin, interleukin 6 (IL6), IL18, IL23, TNFα, resistin, and HMGB1 were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was employed to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) for HMGB1, IL6, and adiponectin to find the best cutoff values capable of identifying MS in obese children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HMGB1 levels were statistically higher in obese patients than in the control group (19.4±6.8 vs 3.7±1.2 ng/ml; P<0.0001). In obese patients, IL18, IL6, and resistin levels were significantly high, while adiponectin levels were low. At multivariate analysis, HMGB1 was found to be independently correlated with BMI, IL23, IL6, free triiodothyronine, HDL, and HOMA-IR. At ROC analysis, HMGB1 showed higher sensitivity and specificity (AUC, 0. 992; sensitivity, 94.7%; specificity, 97.5%) than IL6 and adiponectin in identifying MS in obese children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HMGB1 plays an important role in the inflammatory process associated with childhood obesity. This peptide may be an important diagnostic marker for obesity-related complications, such as MS.
authors: Department of Pediatric Sciences, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Arrigo
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Chirico
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Salpietro
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Munafò
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Ferraù
authors: Eloisa
authors: E
authors: Gitto
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Lacquaniti
authors: Carmelo
authors: C
authors: Salpietro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024243:HMGB1 Protein