HEAT-SHOCK PROTEINS IN AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASE

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are families of polypeptides that are induc ed in response to various forms of physical, chemical, and biological stress. These are highly conserved proteins from bacteria to humans. I n the stressed cells, they fulfill a ''housekeeping'' function and aid in the process of protein folding, assembly, and transport. In many m icroorganisms, HSPs, particularly of the HSP70 family, are immunodomin ant antigens that are immunologically cross-reactive with their mammal ian counterparts. Antibodies to bacterial and host HSPs have been iden tified in association with numerous autoimmune diseases such as rheuma toid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Graves' disease, and oth ers. The role that HSPs may play in the pathogenesis and immunoregulat ion of autoimmune phenomena is discussed.