NITRIC-OXIDE DONOR INDUCES HSP70 ACCUMULATION IN THE HEART AND IN CULTURED-CELLS

As our group has shown, the NO-synthase inhibitor L-NNA decreased 23 t imes heat shock-induced synthesis of the heat shock protein HSP70 (FEB S Lett, 370 (1995) 159-162), It was suggested that NO is involved in s uch induction, In the present study, it was found that (1) injection o f the NO donor dinitrosyl iron complex (DNIC) into rats results in acc umulation of HSP70 in the heart; (2) heat shock is accompanied by incr eased generation of NO (EPR assay) and HSP70 accumulation in cultured cells; (3) DNIC induces HSP70 accumulation in cultured cells not expos ed to heat shock.