HMGB1 and serum lipopolysaccharide activity: This finding is consistent with our previous reports indicating that pro-DCD attenuated KC/GRO-α production in innate immune cells stimulated with exogenous bacterial endotoxins (e.g., LPS) or endogenous mediators of lethal endotoxemia and sepsis (e.g., high mobility group box 1, HMGB1) [1,24,32].