HMGB1 binding heptamer peptide improves survival and ameliorates brain injury in rats after cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Abstract Excessive inflammatory response produced after cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA/CPR) is one of major causes of cerebral injury. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and its role in brain injury after CA/CPR is unclear. Herein we investigated whether blocking HMGB1 signaling could ease brain injury after CA/CPR. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 181) were subjected to 8-min Asphyxia CA model or Sham operation. The ELISA data revealed both resuscitated patients and animals had elevated HMGB1 level in sera, compared with the healthy volunteers or Sham operative rats, respectively ( P