Role of HMGB1 in Neuroinflammation

HMGB1 (high mobility group box 1 protein) refers to a chromatin-associated protein localized in the cytosol to be secreted to the extracellular milieu from multiple cell types including immune and non-immune cells. In this context, HMGB1 functions as a proinflammatory cytokine. Microglia as the main resident immune cells in the brain actively express and secrete HMGB1. Accumulative evidence suggests that HMGB1, released not only by microglia but also astrocytes and endothelial cells, plays a central role in mediating inflammatory signaling and driving the progression of neuroinflammation. In this review, we aim to discuss the critical role and key implications of HMGB1 in neuroinflammation, focusing on the most recent studies and discoveries in this area.