Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH
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J. Thromb. Haemost. · Jan 2007
Comparative StudyHigh-mobility group box 1 protein promotes development of microvascular thrombosis in rats.
Sepsis is a life-threatening disorder resulting from systemic inflammatory and coagulatory responses to infection. High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), an abundant intranuclear protein, was recently identified as a potent lethal mediator of sepsis. However, the precise mechanisms by which HMGB1 exerts its lethal effects in sepsis have yet to be confirmed. We recently reported that plasma HMGB1 levels correlated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) score, indicating that HMGB1 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of DIC. ⋯ These findings demonstrate the procoagulant role of HMGB1 in vivo and in vitro. During sepsis, massive accumulation of HMGB1 in the systemic circulation would promote the development of DIC.