High mobility group box-1 levels may be associated with disease activity of Behcet's disease

Authors: DİLARA DÖNMEZ GÜLER, AYŞE BAHAR KELEŞOĞLU DİNÇER, ZEYNEP CEREN KARAHAN, HASAN SELİM GÜLER, MÜÇTEBA ENES YAYLA, SERDAR SEZER, EMİNE GÖZDE AYDEMİR GÜLÖKSÜZ, İLYAS ERCAN OKATAN, MURAT TORĞUTALP, DİDEM ŞAHİN EROĞLU, MEHMET LEVENT YÜKSEL, TAHSİN MURAT TURĞAY, GÜLAY KINIKLI, AŞKIN ATEŞ

Abstract: Background/aim: High mobility group box- 1 (HMGB- 1) is a nuclear protein acting as a proinflammatory molecule. The serum HMGB- 1 levels were found elevated in chronic inflammatory diseases. In this cross-sectional study, serum HMGB- 1 levels in Behcet's disease (BD) patients and healthy controls (HC) were studied. Also, its association with disease activity scores and clinical findings were evaluated. Materials and methods: Ninety BD patients and 50 age-sex matched HC were included in the study. Disease activity scores were assessed by Behcet Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) and Behcet Syndrome Activity Score (BSAS). Serum HMGB- 1 levels were measured using a commercial ELISA kit. A p value of < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Serum HMGB- 1 levels were significantly higher in BD than in HC (43.26 pg/mL and 16.73 pg/mL; p < 0.001, respectively). Serum HMGB- 1 levels were statistically significantly associated with presence of erythema nodosum (EN) and genital ulcers in the last one month prior to recruitment (p = 0.041 and p < 0.001, respectively). BDCAF and BSAS scores were positively correlated with serum HMGB- 1 level ( p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: HMGB - 1 may play a role in the development of BD. Also, due to its positive correlation with disease activity indices, it can be used as a novel disease activity parameter in BD.

Keywords: High mobility group box-1, autoimmune diseases, Behcet's disease, inflammation

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