HMGB1 Signaling-Mediated Tumor Immunity in Cancer Progress

Tumor immunity is a cycle that begins with the release of antigens from tumor cells and ends with the destruction of tumor cells. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nonhistone protein widely present in the nucleus of mammalian cells and can be released by immune cells or tumor cells. As a proinflammatory mediator or alarm protein, the activity and function of HMGB1 are determined by the environment, binding receptors, redox status and posttranslational modifications (PTMs), and HMGB1 plays a key role in inflammation and tumor immune processes. In this review, we summarize in detail the current studies on the dual role of HMGB1 in tumor immunity, focusing mainly on immunosuppressive effects, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), as well as antitumor immunoenhancement effects, such as immunogenic cell death (ICD). Finally, we discuss the potential and challenges of HMGB1 in antitumor immunotherapy.