Clinical significance and interaction mechanism of high mobility group box-1 protein and p53

High mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) is a ubiquitous nuclear protein, which is also concerned as a late inflammatory factor involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory response. Tumor protein 53 (p53), an ancient tumor gene, is also involved in the immune reaction. Recent reports indicate an interaction between HMGB1 and p53. In the nucleus, HMGB1 promotes p53 binding to DNA and then affects the transcriptions of target genes. In the cytoplasm, HMGB1and p53 construct a complex which regulates the balance between cell apoptosis and autophagy. Extracellular HMGB1 may affect the function of p53 through some molecular pathways. In this review, we summarize the interaction mechanism and clinical significance of HMGB1 and p53. Key words: High mobility group box-1 protein; P53; Sepsis