High-mobility group box-1 and receptor for advanced glycation end products in preterm infants with brain injury

Background High-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) protein acts as an important pro-infl ammatory mediator, which is capable of activating inflammation and tissue repair. HMGB1 can bind to its receptor such as advanced glycation end products (RAGE). RAGE, in turn, can promote the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) is a truncated form of the receptor comprising the extracellular domain of RAGE and can inhibit RAGE-activation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether HMGB1 and RAGE are involved in the development of brain injury in preterm infants.