The chromatin nonhistone DNA binding protein high mobility group box one (HMGB1), released during cell activation and death, may also be involved in the inflammatory clearance of apoptotic cells, which justifies the release of HMGB1, detected in the serum of SLE patients as well as an increased expression of HMGB1, was demonstrated in skin lesions of lupus patients. Here, HMGB1 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.