The PstI polymorphism of the endotoxin-inducible heat-shock protein 70-2 gene does not affect messenger RNA level in human whole-blood cultures

Objective: To determine whether the human leukocyte antigen linked bialleli c heat-shock protein 70-2 (HSP70-2) gene polymorphism is associated with va riable HSP70-2 messenger RNA expression. Design: Prospective observational study in consecutive healthy blood donors . Setting: Department of Anesthesiology, laboratory for molecular biology in a university hospital. Participants: 24 healthy blood donors. Interventions: None. Measurements and results: We studied the functional implication of the HSP7 0-2 (G/A) PstI gene polymorphism in 24 healthy, white blood donors with var ious HSP70-2 (G/A) genotypes by analyzing the endotoxin-inducible HSP70-2 m RNA expression by means of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain react ion. HSP70 expression was expressed semiquantitatively by calculating the r atio of HSP70-2 mRNA and the constitutively expressed glutaraldehyde 3-phos phate dehydrogenase mRNA. No significant differences in HSP70-2 mRNA expres sion after lipopolysaccharide (from Salmonella minnesota Re 595) stimulatio n were detected in individuals homozygous for the allele A (0.68, range 0.3 8-1, n = 10), in individuals homozygous for the allele G (0.79, range 0.42- 1.1, n = 8), and in heterozygotes (HSP70-2 G/A; 0.52, range 0.4-0.67, n = 6 ; p > 0.05). Conclusions: The PstI polymorphism of the endotoxin-inducible HSP70-2 gene is not associated with variable HSP70-2 mRNA expression ex vivo. This findi ng is in accordance with the observation that HSP70-2 genotypes do not affe ct clinical outcome in human systemic inflammation.