High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as a novel frontier in epileptogenesis: from pathogenesis to therapeutic approaches

Epilepsy is a serious neurological condition exhibiting complex pathology and deserving of more serious attention. More than 30% of people with epilepsy are not responsive to more than 20 anti-epileptic drugs currently available, reflecting an unmet clinical need for novel therapeutic strategies. Not much is known about the pathogenesis of epilepsy, but evidence indicates that neuroinflammation might contribute to the onset and progression of epilepsy following acquired brain insults. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these pathophysiological processes are yet to be fully understood. The emerging research suggests that high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1), a DNA-binding protein that is both actively secreted by inflammatory cells and released by necrotic cells, might contribute to the pathogenesis of epilepsy. HMGB1 as an initiator and amplifier of neuroinflammation, and its activation is implicated in the propagation of seizures in animal models. The current review will highlight the potential role of HMGB1 in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, and implications of HMGB1-targeted therapies against epilepsy. HMGB1 in this context is an emerging concept deserving further exploration. Increased understanding of HMGB1 in seizures and epilepsy will pave the way in designing novel and innovative therapeutic strategies that could modify the disease course or prevent its development.