Journal article icon

Journal article : Review

Scoping review of preclinical and clinical studies on the role of HMGB1 in heart disease

Abstract:
High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) is a critical regulator of cardiac injury and repair. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding whether HMGB1 is beneficial or deleterious. We evaluated and synthesised available evidence regarding the molecular functions as well as the clinical and therapeutic utility of HMGB1 in heart disease. We found that overall, the effects depend on the redox state and subcellular location, although most studies failed to identify these parameters clearly. Nuclear upregulation or exogenous administration of fully reduced HMGB1 was beneficial. The partially oxidised form of HMGB1 (dsHMGB1) in the cytoplasm depleted intranuclear HMGB1, and extracellular dsHMGB1 was proinflammatory. Clinically, elevated circulating HMGB1 levels correlate with disease severity and may be a useful prognostic biomarker. Future research should specify the subcellular location and redox state of HMGB1. The development of methods to identify the different redox isoforms would help uncover the therapeutic potential of this multifaceted protein.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

Actions

Access Document

Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1038/s44325-026-00119-4

Authors

More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDORMS
Sub department:
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDORMS
Sub department:
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-6776-2793
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Oncology
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-8274-4959
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDORMS
Sub department:
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-3092-0049


Publisher:
Nature Research
Journal:
npj Cardiovascular Health More from this journal
Volume:
3
Issue:
1
Article number:
20
Publication date:
2026-04-09
Acceptance date:
2026-03-22
DOI:
EISSN:
2948-2836
ISSN:
2948-2836


Language:
English
Keywords:
Subtype:
Review
Pubs id:
2403968
Local pid:
pubs:2403968
Source identifiers:
W7152408308
Deposit date:
2026-04-09
ARK identifier:

Terms of use


Views and Downloads






If you are the owner of this record, you can report an update to it here: Report update to this record

TO TOP