The alarmin functions of high-mobility group box-1 and IL-33 in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

‘Alarmins’ are a group of endogenous proteins or molecules that are released from cells during cellular demise to alert the host innate immune system. Two of them, high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and IL-33 shared many similarities of cellular localization, functions and involvement in various inflammatory diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The expressions of HMGB1 and IL-33, and their corresponding receptors RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) and ST2, respectively, are substantially upregulated in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). This review highlights the emerging roles of alarmin proteins in various pathologies of LN, by focusing on classical HMGB1 and a newly discovered alarmin IL-33.

Keywords::

• alarmin
• HMGB1
• IL-33
• SLE

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Work in the authors’ laboratories was funded by The Chinese University of Hong Kong Direct Grant and Scientific Research Foundation for Young Scholars, Guangzhou Medical University (grant number: 2012C09). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.