Expression of heat shock protein 70 in leukocytes of patients with sepsis

The heat shock proteins are known to protect cells against diverse injuries such as cytotoxicity by TNF alpha acting mainly as chaperones for denature d proteins. Lipopolysaccharide stimulates the production and the release of numerous endogenous mediators of sepsis: tumor necrosis factor alpha, inte rleukin-l, and interleukin-6 that induce fever production. Moreover, temper ature at 40 degrees C is sufficient to induce heat shock and attenuate both TNF alpha and IL-I expression. We demonstrate a distinct profile in gene e xpression of HSP 70 family in leukocytes obtained from different phases of septic patients. Our findings strongly suggest that HSP 70 may play a role in the outcome of septic shock patients.