Leukocyte-derived High-mobility group box 1 controls innate immune responses against Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Volmari Annika , Foelsch Katharina , Yan Karsten , Qi Minyue , Bartels Karlotta , Kondratowicz Stephanie , Boettcher Marius , Nishibori Masahiro , Liu Keyue , Schwabe Robert F. , Lohse Ansgar W. , Huber Samuel , Mittruecker Hans-Willi , Huebener Peter 
Published: October 2019

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a damage-associated molecular pattern with key proinflammatory functions following tissue injury. Moreover, HMGB1 neutralization was shown to alleviate LPS-induced shock, suggesting a role for the protein as a master therapeutic target for inflammatory and infectious diseases. Here, we report that HMGB1 neutralization impedes immune responses to Listeria monocytogenes, a wide-spread bacterium with pathogenic relevance for humans and rodents. Using genetic deletion strategies and neutralizing antibodies, we demonstrate that hepatocyte HMGB1, a major driver of post-necrotic inflammation in the liver, is dispensable for pathogen defense during moderately severe infection with listeria. In contrast, antibody-mediated HMGB1 neutralization and HMGB1 deficiency in myeloid cells effectuate rapid and uncontrolled bacterial dissemination in mice despite preserved basic leukocyte functionality and autophagy induction. During overwhelming infection, hepatocyte injury may contribute to increased HMGB1 serum levels and excessive inflammation in the liver, supporting context-dependent roles for HMGB1 from different cellular compartments during infection. We provide mechanistic evidence that HMGB1 from circulating immune cells contributes to the timely induction of hepatic immune regulatory gene networks, early inflammatory monocyte recruitment to the liver and promotion of neutrophil survival, which are mandatory for pathogen control. In summary, our data establish HMGB1 as a critical co-factor in the immunological clearance of listeria, and argue against HMGB1 neutralization as a universal therapeutic strategy for sepsis.

Author summary

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an abundantly expressed nucleoprotein with signaling properties following secretion or release into the extracellular space. Given its central immune-regulatory roles during tissue injury and LPS-induced septic shock, interventions aimed at HMGB1 signaling have been advocated as therapeutic options for various disease conditions. Here, we show that antibody-mediated HMGB1 neutralization interferes with immunological defense against Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive bacterium with high pathogenic relevance for rodents and humans, effectuating uncontrolled bacterial growth and inflammation. Using conditional knockout animals, we demonstrate that while leukocyte functionality is preserved in HMGB1-deficient myeloid cells, HMGB1 released in response to Listeria triggers hepatic inflammatory monocyte recruitment and activation of transcriptional immune networks required for the early control of bacterial dissemination. Hepatocyte HMGB1, a key driver of post-necrotic inflammation in the liver, is dispensable for the immune response during moderately severe infection, but likely contributes to excessive hepatitis when infection is uncontrolled and cellular injury is high. We demonstrate a critical and non-redundant role for HMGB1 in the immune-mediated clearance of listeriosis and argue against HMGB1 neutralization as a universal therapeutic option in the context of infection.