The ISS is correlated with adrenaline, interleukin (IL)-6, histone-complexed DNA fragments, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) and protein C in trauma patients with high serum SDC-1 levels (≥ 63 ng/ml) but not in those with low SDC-1 levels (< 63 ng/ml) (15). The gene discussed is HMGB1; the disease is injury.