RESEARCH ARTICLE
Proline-Glycine-Proline (PGP) and High Mobility Group Box Protein-1 (HMGB1): Potential Mediators of Cystic Fibrosis Airway Inflammation
Amit Gaggar*, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, §, Steven M Rowe*, 1, 2, 3, 4, §, Hardision Matthew1, J. Edwin Blalock1, 2, 4
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2010Volume: 4
First Page: 32
Last Page: 38
Publisher ID: TORMJ-4-32
DOI: 10.2174/1874306401004010032
Article History:
Received Date: 7/8/2009Revision Received Date: 9/11/2009
Acceptance Date: 10/11/2009
Electronic publication date: 30/3/2010
Collection year: 2010

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is chronic lung disease characterized by an unrelenting neutrophil-predominant airway inflammatory response. This inflammation leads to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and eventually to the development of bronchiectasis. While many components of the immune response in CF have been well-characterized, recent data suggests that small molecules may play an important and underappreciated role in this inflammation. This review will examine two novel molecules: proline-glycine-proline (PGP) and high mobility group box protein-1 (HMGB1), and their potential impact in CF lung disease. This review will provide a brief overview of CF lung disease and background on both HMGB1 and PGP. It will then focus on these molecules in a murine model of CF-like airway disease and in human biological specimens from CF individuals. Finally, this manuscript will address possible mechanisms for therapeutic targeting of these bioactive mediators.