BACKGROUND The heat shock proteins (Hsps) are induced by stresses such as allergic factors and inflammatory responses in bronchi epithelial cells and therefore may be detectable in patients with asthma. However, the etiologic link between anti-Hsps and asthma (its severity and related inflammatory responses such as interleukin-4 and immunoglobulin E) has not been established. We determined whet...

Legionella pneumophila 2064 was selectively radiolabelled in mouse L929 cells and human monocytes to identify proteins expressed early in the course of infection. Polypeptide profiles (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography) of adherent or intracellular bacteria indicated that a 60-kDa stress protein (Hsp60) was preferentially synthesized. Hsp60 synthesis was...

BACKGROUND Work from our laboratory has proven that increased titers of anti-heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) antibodies are associated with atherosclerosis and that HSP60-reactive T-cells are present in atherosclerotic lesions. Recent studies from others demonstrated that HSP60 directly activates endothelial cells and macrophages. METHODS AND RESULTS To explore the possibility that HSP60 exists...

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) or stress proteins are synthesized by cells in response to environmental stress. Expression of HSPs by cells may have important physiological or pathological implications. In this study, we carried out an immunohistochemical and biochemical examination of low (hsp27), intermediate (hsp60), and high (hsp89) molecular weight HSP expression in reactive lymph nodes and in...

Background: Inflammation and infectious agents such as Chlamydia pneumoniae have been associated with cardiovascular disease. Objective: To evaluate the serum high sensitivity C - reactive protein (hs-CRP) and antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydial heat shock protein-60 (Cp-HSP60) in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: 62 patients with IHD having either acute my...

The microRNAs miR-1 and miR-133 are preferentially expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscles and have been shown to regulate differentiation and proliferation of these cells. We report here a novel aspect of cellular function of miR-1 and miR-133 regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. miR-1 and miR-133 produced opposing effects on apoptosis, induced by oxidative stress in H9c2 rat ventricular c...

Epolactaene is a microbial metabolite isolated from Penicillium sp., from which we synthesized its derivative ETB (epolactaene tertiary butyl ester). In the present paper, we report on the identification of the binding proteins of epolactaene/ETB, and the results of our investigation into its inhibitory mechanism. Using biotin-labelled derivatives of epolactaene/ETB, human Hsp (heat-shock prote...

The genus Bacillus comprises of a diverse group with a wide range of nutritional requirements and physiological and metabolic diversity. Their role in nutrient cycle is well documented. 16S rDNA sequences do not always allow the species to be discriminated. In this study 40 Bacillus spp. obtained from fish culture pond and 10 culture type strains were analysed for their genomic diversity by PCR...

To optimize antigen delivery by Salmonella vaccine strains, a system for surface display of antigenic determinants was established by using the autotransporter secretion pathway of gram-negative bacteria. A modular system for surface display allowed effective targeting of heterologous antigens or fragments thereof to the bacterial surface by the autotransporter domain of AIDA-I, the Escherichia...

The present study aimed to analyze the expression levels and localizations of heat shock protein (HSP) 60 and HSP10 in the heart tissue of rats subjected to heat stress (42°C) for 0, 20, 80 and 100 min. Histopathological injuries and increased serum activities of serum lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB were detected in the heated rat myocardial cells. These results suggeste...