Introduction: Incisional hernias (IH) arise as a complication of patients undergoing laparotomy. Current literature has assessed the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) disorganization, alterations in type I and type III collagen, matrix metalloproteinases, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases on IH. However, there is limited information on the underlying molecular mechanisms that lead to ECM disorganization. Areas covered: We critically reviewed the literature surrounding IH and ECM disorganization and offer a novel pathway that may be the underlying mechanism resulting in ECM disorganization and the immunopathogenesis of IH. Expert opinion: High mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1), a damage-associated molecular pattern, plays an important role in the sterile inflammatory pathway and has been linked to ECM disorganization and the triggering of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Further research to investigate the role of HMGB-1 in the molecular pathogenesis of IH would be critical in identifying novel therapeutic targets in the management of IH formation.
Keywords: ECM disorganization; HMGB-1; Incisional hernia; pathogenesis; sterile inflammation.