HMGB1 and Increased total leukocyte count: Serum high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels were significantly elevated in surviving sepsis-induced mice for 4–6 weeks, with administration of recombinant HMGB1 to naive mice inducing similar splenomegaly, leukocytosis and splenocyte priming phenotypes as sepsis-induced survivors [36].