Assessment of the serum high-mobility group box 1 level in vitiligo patients in comparison to healthy subjects and its relation to total oxidant status and disease activity

Abstract

Background:Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder of unknown etiology, affecting approximately 1% of the world population, without predilection for race or sex. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nonhistone DNAbinding protein active in the bending of DNA and in its transcription that participates in a number of physiological and pathological processes, including cytokine production, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, cellular differentiation, and cell death. Aim and Objectives: The aim of work was to evaluate the serum level of high-mobility group box 1 in vitiligo patients and its relation to total oxidant status levels and disease activity. Subjects and methods:It is a cross-sectional study which was carried out on 48 patients diagnosed as having vitiligo (24 active patients and 24 and non-active) and 48 health controls. All patients were selected from the dermatology outpatient clinic of vitiligo, Ain-Shams University Hospitals.HMGB1 and Total Oxidant Status (TOS) were measured in cases and controls. Results:The serum levels of HMGB1 among patients and controls revealed that patients had statistically high significant levels of HMGB1. HMGB1 serum levels in vitiligo patients were significantly positively correlated to TOS serum levels and VIDA. Conclusion: Serum HMGB1 level is a promising biomarker for monitoring disease activity in patients with vitiligo and it may play a role as a link between oxidative stress and melanocyte damage in vitiligo. Keywords: High-mobility group box1, Total Oxidant Status, Vitiligo disease activity, Vitiligo.