HMGB1 Protein in Physiological and Pathological Processes
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Biochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 2754
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
HMGB1 protein is a member of the highly conserved DNA-binding protein family, possessing a unique DNA-binding domain, the HMG-box. The ability of HMGB1 to bind both DNA and proteins enables HMGB1 to act inside the cell nucleus as a unique DNA chaperone, influencing multiple processes in chromatin, as such as transcription, replication, nucleosome sliding, V(D)J recombination, DNA repair, telomere homeostasis and genomic stability. HMGB1 can be passively or actively released from cells. The released (extracellular) HMGB1 has been extensively studied as a DAMP (damage-associated molecular pattern) protein molecule, alarmin. It can exhibit cytokine, chemokine and growth factor activity, and activates innate immunity via distinct receptors. The redox states of three cysteine residues at positions 23, 45 and 106 are critical for the extracellular activity of HMGB1. Extracellular HMGB1, on its own or in complex with partner molecules (e.g., DNA, RNA, histones, nucleosomes, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), IL-1α and IL-1β), exhibits pro-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory and pro-tumor effects through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. HMGB1 is a critical molecular target in multiple human inflammation-driven diseases, such as immune disorders, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases (including COVID-19), ischemia, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Blocking excess extracellular HMGB1, particularly the disulfide isoform (i.e., the mildly oxidized form), could be a feasible approach to ameliorate inflammatory diseases. Recent data revealed that HMGB1 levels in the plasma/serum of patients suffering from inflammation-mediated diseases correlate positively with disease severity, and vice versa. Thus, HMGB1 could also serve as a useful biomarker for monitoring the occurrence, treatment success and survival prediction of patients with inflammation-mediated diseases. While the total HMGB1 protein in plasma/serum is indicative of both cell death and immune-cell activation, specific isoforms of HMGB1 (e.g., the hyper-acetylated or disulfide isoform) appear to be more informative biomarkers for multiple disorders, possibly in combination with other biomarkers.
Dr. Michal Štros
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- HMGB1
- receptors
- inflammation-mediated diseases
- biomarker
