Regulation of HMGB1 release by inflammasomes

• Published in: Protein & cell Vol. 4; no. 3; pp. 163 - 167
• Main Authors: Lu, Ben, Wang, Haichao, Andersson, Ulf, Tracey, Kevin J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Higher Education Press 01.03.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Developmental Biology; eIF-2 Kinase - metabolism; HMGB1 Protein - chemistry; HMGB1 Protein - metabolism; Human Genetics; Humans; Immunologi inom det medicinska området; Inflammasomes - metabolism; Life Sciences; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - metabolism; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper; Mini-Review; Protein Science; Stem Cells; inflammasome; PKR; HMGB1
• ISSN: 1674-800X; 1674-8018; 1674-8018
• DOI: 10.1007/s13238-012-2118-2

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an evolutionarily conserved non-histone chromatin-binding protein. During infection or injury, activated immune cells and damaged cells release HMGB1 into the extracellular space, where HMGB1 functions as a proinflammatory mediator and contributes importantly to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. Recent studies reveal that inflammasomes, intracellular protein complexes, critically regulate HMGB1 release from activated immune cells in response to a variety of exogenous and endogenous danger signals. Double stranded RNA dependent kinase (PKR), an intracellular danger-sensing molecule, physically interacts with inflammasome components and is important for inflammasome activation and HMGB1 release. Together, these studies not only unravel novel mechanisms of HMGB1 release during inflammation, but also provide potential therapeutic targets to treat HMGB1-related inflammatory diseases.