Induction of heat shock protein 72 protects against organ damage in essential hypertension: A hypothesis

Over 12 consecutive years, hyperthermia was induced by immersion in hot bat hs 1576 times in one subject with a long history of labile hypertension. In year 13 (1996), following hyperthermia induction, peripheral lymphocytes w ere analyzed by Western blot analysis for heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) gen e expression. It was demonstrated that rectal and oral fevers maintained fo r 15 mins at 38.2 degrees C and 38.6 degrees C or higher, respectively, tri ggered HSP72 expression. Because this subject showed no evidence of organ d amage secondary to hypertension, and because both hyperthermia and acute hy pertension upregulate HSP72 expression, a role for HSP72 in protection agai nst the adverse effects of essential hypertension disease is proposed and d iscussed.