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Association between high mobility group box 1 protein and juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a prospective longitudinal
Dan Xu1,2, Yu Zhang1,2, Zhi-Yong Zhang1,2
1Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 136, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400014, People's Republic of China.
Insights
High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein levels were analyzed in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). HMGB1 was elevated in systemic JIA and correlated with disease activity, suggesting it is a sensitive inflammatory marker.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a complex autoimmune disease affecting children.
- Understanding inflammatory markers is crucial for JIA management and treatment.
- High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a protein implicated in inflammatory processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum levels of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein in children with different courses of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
- To assess the correlation of HMGB1 levels with clinical and laboratory markers of disease activity in JIA.
- To evaluate HMGB1 as a potential inflammatory marker in JIA.
Main Methods:
- A prospective longitudinal study involving 64 children with JIA, including systemic JIA and enthesitis-related arthritis subtypes.
- Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6-month follow-ups.
- Serum HMGB1 levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), with comparisons to healthy controls and children with reactive arthritis.
Main Results:
- Serum HMGB1 levels were significantly elevated in children with systemic JIA compared to other JIA subtypes and controls at the first visit.
- Elevated HMGB1 levels were also observed in enthesitis-related arthritis compared to healthy controls.
- HMGB1 levels correlated significantly with disease duration, C-reactive protein, neutrophil percentage, ferritin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and disease activity scores in JIA patients.
Conclusions:
- Serum HMGB1 shows potential as a sensitive inflammatory marker in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
- HMGB1 levels are particularly increased at disease onset in children with systemic JIA.
- Further large-scale studies are recommended to fully elucidate the role of HMGB1 in the spectrum of JIA.
Objective:
To analyze the levels of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein on different courses of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Methods:
In our prospective longitudinal study, children with JIA were included with their blood samples collected at the first visit, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up, respectively. Samples were also collected from healthy controls and children with reactive arthritis at the first visit. Levels of HMGB1 were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Clinical disease characteristics and routine laboratory findings were analyzed as well.
Results:
A total of 64 children were enrolled, of whom 31 (48.4%) were female. The median age at the first visit for participants with JIA was 9.25 years (range, 1.42-15.42) and the median duration of disease was 2.38 months (range, 1.53-49.31). Serum HMGB1 levels at the first visit were significantly elevated in children with systemic JIA compared with other groups, and so were in enthesitis-related arthritis versus healthy controls. Significant correlations were established at the first visit between HMGB1 levels and duration of disease, C-reactive protein, percentage of neutrophils, and ferritin. Data from all samples revealed that serum HMGB1 levels in JIA were significantly associated with erythrocyte sedimentation rates, C-reactive protein, percentage of neutrophils, and disease activity scores.
Conclusions:
Serum HMGB1 may be associated with clinical disease activity of JIA and specifically increased at the first visit in children with systemic JIA, suggesting its function as a sensitive inflammatory marker. Further large-scale studies are warranted to explore its spectrum in JIA.
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