HMGB1 values and response to HBV vaccine in children with celiac disease

Sara Manti1, Caterina Cuppari1, Giuseppe F Parisi2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Insights

Children with celiac disease (CD) show a reduced response to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels were higher in non-responders, suggesting HMGB1 as a potential marker for inadequate HBV vaccination response in CD.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Celiac disease (CD) presents with clinical variability and can impair immune responses.
  • Individuals with CD often exhibit a diminished response to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine compared to healthy individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as a potential biomarker for inadequate HBV vaccine response in children diagnosed with CD.
  • To assess HMGB1 levels before initiating a gluten-free diet in pediatric CD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 49 children diagnosed with CD.
  • Measured serum HMGB1 levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the time of HBV immunization assessment.
  • Analyzed HMGB1 levels in relation to HBV vaccine response, disease presentation, and HLA haplotype.

Main Results:

  • Serum HMGB1 levels were significantly higher in non-responders compared to responders (P < 0.05).
  • Low responders exhibited significantly higher HMGB1 levels than high responders (P < 0.001).
  • Elevated HMGB1 values were detected in the typical form of CD compared to atypical or silent forms (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) may serve as a novel marker indicating immune impairment.
  • HMGB1 levels can potentially reflect the failure of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in patients with celiac disease.
  • This finding highlights HMGB1's role in understanding vaccine response variability in CD.
Abstract