The mechanisms underlying mitochondrial impairment in the failing heart are not yet clearly defined. In the present study, we examined the involvement of changes in small heat shock proteins (HSPs) such as HSPB1, HSPB5 and HSPB8 in mitochondrial dysfunction of the failing heart. Hemodynamic parameters of rats with myocardial infarction at the 2nd and 8th weeks (2W- and 8W-) after coronary arter...

We have investigated the developmental expression of the small heat-shock proteins (hsps) during embryogenesis and in adult flies by immunocytology using an antibody that specifically identifies the small hsps. Antibody staining of unstressed early embryos reveals a predominantly cytoplasmic, homogeneous distribution of the small hsps throughout the embryo. At 6h of development small hsp expres...

he heat shock protein (HSP) family consists of HSP90, HSP70, chaperon-containing TCP1, small HSP (sHSP) and mitochondrial HSP60. Some of these are reported to be increased during heart failure, hypertrophy and ischemia.1 It is clear that HSPs function as chaperones in response to stress in cardiomyocytes.2 In addition, extracellular HSPs and those on the plasma membrane act as cytokines instead...

INTRODUCTION The important protective role of small heat-shock proteins (HSPs) in regulating cellular survival and migration, counteracting protein aggregation, preventing apoptosis, and regulating inflammation in the central nervous system is now well-recognized. Yet, their role in the neuroinflammatory disorder multiple sclerosis (MS) is largely undocumented. With the exception of alpha B-cry...

Extracellular heat-shock proteins (HSPs) interact with the immune system in a very complex manner. Many such HSPs exert powerful effects on the immune response, playing both stimulatory and regulatory roles. However, the influence of the HSPs on immunity appears to be positive or negative in nature - rarely neutral. Thus, the HSPs can act as dominant antigens and can comprise key components of ...

Diapause, the dormancy common to overwintering insects, evokes a unique pattern of gene expression. In the flesh fly, most, but not all, of the fly's heat shock proteins (Hsps) are up-regulated. The diapause up-regulated Hsps include two members of the Hsp70 family, one member of the Hsp60 family (TCP-1), at least four members of the small Hsp family, and a small Hsp pseudogene. Expression of a...

Novel classes of anticancer drugs, including proteasome inhibitors and Hsp90 inhibitors, potently induce heat shock proteins (Hsps). Because Hsps show antiapoptotic activities, we suggested that suppression of such induction may sensitize cancer cells to these drugs. Here, we knocked out the major heat shock transcription factor HSF-1 in several cancer cell lines using small interfering RNA and...

The study of small heat shock proteins in plant-pathogen interactions is a subject that has to be further investigated. While Hsp70 and Hsp90 participate in the defense response, the role of this small Hsps remains elusive. In this work we analyzed the expression of small Hsps in citrus canker and the bacterial spot of pepper as well as in the incompatible interactions of the bacterial pathogen...