Patent ID: 8501173

Claim:
An isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a B-box fragment of high mobility group B 1 (HMGB1) wherein the B-box fragment: (i) stimulates release of a proinflammatory cytokine selected from the group consisting of TNF, IL-1β, IL-6 and a combination thereof, from a vertebrate cell selected from the group consisting of a macrophage, a monocyte, a neutrophil and a combination thereof and (ii) consists of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:23, a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 16, and a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 23, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment inhibits HMGB1-mediated release of a proinflammatory cytokine selected from the group consisting of TNF, IL-1β, IL-6 and a combination thereof from a vertebrate cell selected from the group consisting of a macrophage, a monocyte, a neutrophil and a combination thereof.