Association between high mobility group box 1 protein and juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a prospective longitudinal study

Abstract

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.

Immunoprofiling of active and inactive systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis reveals distinct biomarkers: a single-center study

“…We have previously reported significantly increased HMGB1 levels in JIA synovial fluid [ 39 ]. Recently, Xu et al [ 40 ] reported that serum HMGB1 levels at the first visit were significantly elevated in sJIA compared with other JIA subgroups. We found significantly higher HMGB1 levels in active than in inactive phases, and confirmed HMGB1’s predictive ability of sJIA activity by ROC analysis.…”

An Update on the Pathogenic Role of Neutrophils in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Adult-Onset Still’s Disease

“…Serum HMGB–1 level was the most elevated at the time of diagnosis in patients with AOSD and SJIA, and most of the follow-up patients showed decreased levels after the disease showed an improvement. In patients with AOSD, serum HMGB–1 may be correlated with clinical disease activity, such as C–reactive protein (CRP), systemic score, skin rash, and sore throat [ 112 , 113 , 114 ]. LL–37 is released in the form of NETs via TLR 8/13 and formyl peptide receptor-like 1 in neutrophils, inducing the production of inflammatory cytokines, leading to the generation of interferon-α by dendritic cells.…”

Evidence of persistent glial cell dysfunction in the anterior cingulate cortex of juvenile idiopathic arthritis children: a proton MRS study

“…The JADAS-27 was used to evaluate the disease activity of certain JIA subgroups (oligoarticular JIA, polyarticular JIA and undifferentiated arthritis). Moreover, the Juvenile Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Index (JSpADA) and the systemic Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (sJADAS) were used for enthesitis-related arthritis and systemic JIA, respectively [ 15 ]. Notably, the inactivity or remission of JIA was defined as JADAS ≤ 1 [ 15 ].…”

“…Moreover, the Juvenile Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Index (JSpADA) and the systemic Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (sJADAS) were used for enthesitis-related arthritis and systemic JIA, respectively [ 15 ]. Notably, the inactivity or remission of JIA was defined as JADAS ≤ 1 [ 15 ]. 2) The screen for child anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) was selected to evaluate the emotional status of both children and adolescents with active and inactive JIA and healthy controls [ 16 ].…”