High-Mobility Group Protein Box 1 is Upregulated in Children with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

Abstract

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a common systemic vasculitis in children. High-mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) is an inflammatory cytokine involved in many autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to examine the expression of HMGB1 in HSP. Fifty-six children with HSP (HSP group) and 32 healthy children (Control group) were enrolled, and their clinic data were collected. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect mRNA levels of HMGB1, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum levels of HMGB1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The mRNA levels of HMGB1, TLR2, TLR4, and NF-κB in PBMCs were upregulated in HSP group with kidney injury compared with control group without kidney injury (P < 0.05). The serum levels of HMGB1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in HSP group with kidney injury were signifi...