Cerebrospinal Fluid High-Mobility Group Box Protein 1 in Neuromyelitis Optica and Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are two autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating diseases in the central nervous system. Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of these diseases. High-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) can activate the nuclear factor K light chain -enhancer of activated B cells and release cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-17. However, whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HMGB1 levels were altered in NMO and MS patients is still unclear. Objectives: It was our aim to measure the CSF HMGB1 concentration in NMO patients and explore their relationship with IL-6, IL-17 and disease activity. Methods: CSF HMGB1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in NMO (n = 22) and MS (n = 18) patients as well as in controls (n = 14). Results: CSF HMGB1 was notably higher in the NMO group compared with controls (p = 0.007). CSF HMGB1 positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-17 in NMO patients (IL-6, p = 0.034; IL-17, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In conclusion, our study suggests that CSF levels of HMGB1 are increased in patients with NMO and reflect the neuroinflammatory process. Copyright (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel