Compared with that in healthy controls, the serum HMGB1 level is significantly increased in patients with AD and is positively correlated with the severity of skin lesions, as indicated by the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index (60); the serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE), IL-17, and IL-23 are also increased in AD and are inversely correlated with the serum IL-10 level. The gene discussed is HMGB1; the disease is atopic eczema.