Reduced-HMGB1 suppresses poly(I:C)-induced inflammation in keratinocytes

HMGB1 was originally characterized as a non-histone chromosomal protein constitutively expressed in mammalian cells that contributes to various aspects of nuclear homeostasis, such as stabilization of nucleosomes, DNA repair and recombination, and transcription [1,2]. Recent reports showed that HMGB1 also has cytokine-like properties and can induce inflammatory responses via its interaction with cell surface-expressed innate receptors [1,3–6]. Two different routes of HMGB1 release have been reported.