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Updated: Jul 9, 2025
Quantitative Measurement of Intrathecally Synthesized Proteins in Mice
Published on: November 29, 2019
Potential significance of high-mobility group protein box 1 in cerebrospinal fluid
Zhiwu Wu1, Liping Liang2, Qianliang Huang1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital (Ganzhou Hospital, Southern Hospital of Southern Medical University), 16th Meiguan Road, Ganzhou 341000, China.
Insights
High-mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a potential biomarker for central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Lowering CSF HMGB1 levels may improve disease outcomes and predict progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- High-mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) is a multifunctional cytokine associated with inflammation.
- HMGB1 presence in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is linked to central nervous system (CNS) diseases.
- Elevated CSF HMGB1 levels correlate with pathological alterations following focal CNS lesions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of HMGB1 in CNS diseases.
- To evaluate CSF HMGB1 as a potential biomarker for disease progression and a therapeutic target.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research on HMGB1 characteristics and its function in CNS diseases.
- Analysis of studies investigating CSF HMGB1 levels in various neurological conditions.
- Exploration of therapeutic strategies targeting HMGB1, such as neutralizing antibodies.
Main Results:
- CSF HMGB1 is detected in numerous CNS diseases, suggesting its utility as a biomarker.
- Elevated CSF HMGB1 levels are associated with pathological changes in distant brain areas.
- Intraventricular administration of anti-HMGB1 antibodies shows potential for improving CNS disease outcomes.
Conclusions:
- CSF HMGB1 serves as a valuable biomarker for predicting CNS disease progression.
- HMGB1 may act as a pathogenic factor contributing to CNS pathology.
- CSF HMGB1 is implicated in inter-regional brain and spinal cord communication.
Abstract:
High-mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) is a cytokine with multiple functions (according to its subcellular location) that serves a marker of inflammation. CSF HMGB1 could be the part of pathological mechanisms that underlie the complications associated with CNS diseases. HMGB1 actively or passively released into the CSF is detected in the CSF in many diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and thus may be useful as a biomarker. Pathological alterations in distant areas were observed due to lesions in a specific region, and the level of HMGB1 in the CSF was found to be elevated. Reducing the HMGB1 level via intraventricular injection of anti-HMGB1 neutralizing antibodies can improve the outcomes of CNS diseases. The results indicated that CSF HMGB1 could serve as a biomarker for predicting disease progression and may also act as a pathogenic factor contributing to pathological alterations in distant areas following focal lesions in the CNS. In this mini-review, the characteristics of HMGB1 and progress in research on CSF HMGB1 as a biomarker of CNS diseases were discussed. CSF HMGB1 is useful not only as a biomarker of CNS diseases but may also be involved in interactions between different brain regions and the spinal cord.
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