Assessment of the Serum High-Mobility Group Box 1 Level in Vitiligo Patients in Comparison to Healthy Subjects and Its Relation to Total Oxidant Status and Disease Activity

Abstract

Abstract Background Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder of unknown etiology, affecting approximately 1% of the world population, without predilection for race or sex. It is characterized by white macules and patches, whose size increases over time, due to the loss of melanocytes. Aim of Work The aim of work was to evaluate the serum level of high-mobility group box 1 in vitiligo patients and its relation to total oxidant status levels and disease activity. Subjects and methods This is a cross-sectional study which was carried out on 48 patients diagnosed as having vitiligo (24 active patients and 24 and non active) and 48 health controls for 6 months duration. All patients were selected from the dermatology outpatient clinic of vitiligo, Ain-Shams University Hospitals. Results The serum levels of HMGB1 among patients and controls revealed that patients had a statistically high significant levels of HMGB1 (p value 0.001), HMGB1 serum levels in vitiligo patients were significantly positively correlated to TOS serum levels and VIDA score (p value 0.001), between active and non-active group, there was a highly statistical significant difference between the two groups regarding serum level of HMGB1, as the serum HMGB1 levels were much higher in active compared to non-active patients (p value 0.001). Conclusion HMGB1 is a crucial damage associated molecular pattern molecule that links oxidative stresses to the formation of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. HMGB1 is a crucial inflammatory factor involved in the progression of vitiligo. Serum HMGB1 level is a promising biomarker for monitoring disease activity in patients with vitiligo. HMGB1 may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of vitiligo.