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Serum HMGB1 and Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

Iwona Popiolek1,2, Piotr Hydzik1,2, Krzysztof Ciszowski1,2

  • 1Department of Toxicology and Environmental Diseases, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Botaniczna 3, 31-503 Kraków, Poland.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|May 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Circulating High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is detectable in some patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and indicates greater disease severity. This potential biomarker is more frequent in ALD patients than controls.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Biomarker Discovery
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) lacks validated biomarkers for disease activity and severity.
  • High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a damage-associated molecular pattern, is implicated in ALD pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the detectability of circulating HMGB1 in patients with ALD during active alcohol consumption.
  • To examine the clinical associations of detectable HMGB1 in ALD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study of hospitalized adults with ongoing ethanol use and healthy controls.
  • Serum HMGB1 measured by ELISA; clinical features and severity scores (MELD, MELD-Na, CLIF-C AD) recorded.

Main Results:

  • HMGB1 was detectable in 47% of ALD patients vs. 11% of controls.
  • Detectable HMGB1 correlated with higher bilirubin, creatinine, white cell count, and greater MELD, MELD-Na, and CLIF-C AD scores.
  • No significant differences in mortality or readmission rates based on HMGB1 status.

Conclusions:

  • Detectable circulating HMGB1 is present in a subset of ALD patients.
  • HMGB1 detectability is associated with increased liver disease severity in ALD.

Keywords:
HMGB1alcohol hepatitisalcohol use disorderalcohol-related liver disease

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