HMBG-1: A Biomarker in the Management of Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Introduction: High mobility group box (HMGB)-1 protein is a promising prognostic marker for predicting the course of retinopathy and the prognosis in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR). The aim of this study is to investigate whether serum HMGB-1 protein levels can be used as a biomarker about the severity of the disease in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Material and methods: This study was carried out in the internal medicine and ophthalmology departments of the Gaziantep Medicalpark Hospital. The records of 50 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy and 47 healthy subjects who applied to our clinic between January 2016 and December 2018 were retrospectively scanned. Five cc of venous blood was taken from the patients, and control groups were included in the study for routine laboratory tests and serum HMGB-1 levels to be studied under appropriate conditions. Human HMGB-1 levels were measured using the ELISA method. Results: There was a significant difference among the groups in terms of HMGB-1 levels (p<0.001) (Table-1). There was a positive correlation between blood glucose and HMGB-1 in the diabetic retinopathy group (Spearman's rho (ρ)=0.07). Similarly, there was a positive correlation between HbA1c and HMGB-1 levels in the diabetic retinopathy group. (Spearman's rho (ρ)=0.06). Conclusions: Our study suggests that HMGB-1 may be a useful biomarker in managing DR, aiding in the prediction and treatment of microvascular complications.

Keywords

• hmgb-1
• diabetic retinopathy
• diabetes mellitus
• type 2 diabetes