Heat shock proteins mRNA expressions by peripheral blood mononuclear cellsin asthma and chronic bronchitis

Objective To investigate the manifestations that heat shock proteins(HSPs) possess in the pathogenesis of asthma and chronic bronchitis. Methods Using reverse transcription-DNA polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) , we investigated the expression levels of HSP70, HSP90 alpha and HSP90 bet a genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) at natural state and af ter heat shock in 14 healthy volunteers, 21 patients with asthma and 18 pat ients with chronic bronchitis. Results No HSP70 gene but HSP90 alpha and HSP90 beta expressions were found in non-heat- shocked PBMC of normal control; HSP90 alpha and HSP90 beta ge nes may be expressed in PBMC of patients no matter whether they were in acu te episode or not. Expression of HSP70 was found in PBMC of patients in acu te episodes and of three symptoms-free patients with Aas 3, step 2. No expr ession of HSP70 gene was found in PBMC of patients in convalescent period b ut in PBMC of patients in acute episode. HSP90 alpha: and HSP90 beta genes were expressed in PBMC of the two patients groups; After heat shock, expres sions of the three genes increased in amount significantly in PBMC of all n ormal controls and patients. Conclusion Expression of HSP70 gene in PBMC of asthmatic patients and chron ic bronchitis was different, indicating that HSPs, especially HSP70 might b e involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.