Up-regulation of HSP47 in the mouse kidneys with unilateral ureteral obstruction

BACKGROUND

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is a well established experimental model of renal injury leading to interstitial fibrosis. The molecular and cellular mechanism(s) of interstitial fibrosis in UUO are beginning to be elucidated. In the progression of interstitial fibrosis in UUO, up-regulation of collagen synthesis is commonly observed. HSP47 is a collagen-binding stress protein and is thought to be a collagen-specific molecular chaperone, which plays a pivotal role during the biosynthesis and secretion of collagen molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum. The synthesis of HSP47 has been demonstrated to always parallel that of collagen in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. It is well recognized that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is enhanced in the setting of UUO and that enhanced RAS has been implicated in the pathogenesis of interstitial fibrosis in the obstructed kidneys.

METHODS

To investigate the role of HSP47 in the progression of interstitial fibrosis in mouse UUO, the expression of HSP47 was examined by Northern blotting, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in the obstructed kidneys. To test the possible involvement of enhanced RAS on the HSP47 expression, we examined the effects of lisinopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, on interstitial fibrosis. HSP47 and type I collagen mRNA expression.

RESULTS

By Northern blot analysis, HSP47 mRNA was significantly up-regulated at 12 hours (about twice that of sham operated kidneys) after the onset of ureteral obstruction, further increased and stayed at the increased level until seven days (about 8 times that of sham operated kidneys). HSP47 mRNA and protein expression were observed in the periglomerular and peritubular interstitial regions of the obstructed kidneys. Distribution of smooth muscle alpha actin and type I collagen immunoreactivity were similar to the HSP47 distribution pattern, suggesting that HSP47 was up-regulated in the myofibroblasts. Lisinopril ameliorated the expansion of cortical interstitium in the obstructed kidneys at four and seven days after ureteral obstruction. HSP47 mRNA expression was suppressed at four and seven days, whereas type I collagen mRNA was suppressed only at seven days after the onset of ureteral obstruction.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate the early and persistent up-regulation of HSP47 during the progression of interstitial fibrosis in mouse UUO kidneys, and further suggest the potential role of HSP47 in the pathogenesis of interstitial fibrosis in the obstructed kidneys. Partial suppression of HSP47 mRNA expression by lisinopril at day 4 and day 7 after ureteral obstruction suggests that there are other immediate trigger(s) that induce the HSP47 mRNA expression. Identification of the molecular mechanism of HSP47 induction during UUO may give an insight into the novel aspects of the molecular pathophysiology of interstitial fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy.

Cyclooxygenase-2 is induced globally in infarcted human brain

Cyclooxygenase (COX) catalyzes synthesis of prostanoids after liberation of arachidonic acid, an important biochemical sequela of cerebral ischemia that aggravates brain injury. We investigated expression of inducible COX-2 in infarcted human brains (symptom duration, 15 hours to 18 days) and found that COX-2 protein was present in both neuronal and glial cells throughout the brain in accord with infarct topography and duration. These results emphasize the global yet temporally regulated nature of COX-2 induction during focal ischemia in humans, clearly different from the circumscribed acute expression reported in experimental animal models. We speculate that early induction of COX-2 may fuel tissue damage through prostanoids and free radicals, and delayed induction in remote brain areas may promote reconstitutive processes in the face of tissue scarring and remodeling of the surviving neural networks.

Dictyostelium discoideum Hsp32 is a resident nucleolar heat-shock protein

Hsp32 is a small shock protein in Dictyostelium discoideum that is expressed in growing cells in the absence of heat shock. Here we show that Hsp32 is an Ag-NOR-staining protein capable of binding DNA with high affinity. Hsp32 is also shown to be a resident nucleolar protein both under normal growth conditions and during heat stress. In unstressed cells, Hsp32 localizes to the nucleolar periphery in a pattern reminiscent of the rDNA in this organism. During the first several hours of heat shock, the peripheral localization of Hsp32 is not altered, although rDNA transcription is arrested. Prolonged heat shock causes a condensation of the rDNA. Under these conditions, Hsp32 is no longer predominantly associated with the rDNA, but is instead distributed over the entire nucleolus. Hsp32 therefore retains ist nucleolar localization under prolonged heat shock conditions by associating with nucleolar components other than the rDNA or rRNA.

Overexpression of ras is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal adenocarcinoma

The expression of ras was investigated by using immunohistochemistry in 245 primary colorectal adenocarcinomas and 49 corresponding metastases in the lymph nodes. One hundred and forty-four (59%) of the primary tumours presented as ras positive and 37 (76%) were positive in metastases. The ras expression was positively related to cell proliferation (p=0.01) and significantly increased in tumours with aneuploidy (68%) compared to tumours with diploidy (51%) and tetraploidy (53%, p=0.01). The frequency of ras expression was increased from Dukes' stage A to stages B-D (41% vs 62%, p=0.01). ras expression was compared in 40 paired primary tumours and their corresponding metastases, and the difference in expression did not reach statistical significance (73% vs 83%, p=0.32). In survival analyses, ras overexpression predicted a poor prognosis independent of Dukes' stage, DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (p=0.049). We did not find any significant relationship between ras expression and patients' sex, age, tumour location, growth pattern, differentiation, p53 expression or heat shock protein. The results indicate that the alteration of ras expression may be involved in the instability of DNA and cellular overproliferation, but not in the progression to advanced stage and the development of metastases. The expression of ras was an important biological marker for evaluating the prognosis in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Localization of estrogen-receptor-related antigen in human odontoblasts

Estrogen receptors have been demonstrated in many osteogenic cell lines. Recently, we showed that estrogen deficiency induced by ovariectomy caused enhanced dentin formation in adult rats, suggesting that estrogen receptors may be present in dental tissues. Nothing is known about estrogen receptors in human teeth. We used immunohistochemical staining and immuno-blotting to demonstrate the presence of estrogen receptors in human pulp and/or the pulpo-dentinal border. Unerupted human wisdom teeth were surgically removed, frozen in liquid nitrogen, and prepared for immunological studies. Western blot analysis with monoclonal antibodies specific for human estrogen-receptor-related antigens demonstrated an approximately 29-kDa clear double band in the material scraped from the predentin-odontoblast border and in the fluid that emerged into the pulpal chamber, evidently from the odontoblasts. A weaker double band was also present in pulpal tissue samples. By immunohistochemical staining, estrogen-receptor-related antigens were visualized in the predentinal-odontoblast region and in the pulpal blood vessels. Our results suggest the presence of estrogen receptors in human teeth, and thus the previously reported enhancement of the dentin formation in rats after ovariectomy may be mediated via these receptors.

Cellular mechanisms of resistance to chronic oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is implicated in several pathologies such as AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, as well as in normal aging. As a model system to study the response of cells to oxidative insults, glutamate toxicity on a mouse nerve cell line, HT-22, was examined. Glutamate exposure kills HT-22 via a nonreceptor-mediated oxidative pathway by blocking cystine uptake and causing depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH), leading to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and, ultimately, apoptotic cell death. Several HT-22 subclones that are 10-fold resistant to exogenous glutamate were isolated and the mechanisms involved in resistance characterized. The expression levels of neither heat shock proteins nor apoptosis-related proteins are changed in the resistant cells. In contrast, the antioxidant enzyme catalase, but not glutathione peroxidase nor superoxide dismutase, is more highly expressed in the resistant than in the parental cells. In addition, the resistant cells have enhanced rates of GSH regeneration due to higher activities of the GSH metabolic enzymes gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and GSH reductase, and GSH S-transferases activities are also elevated. As a consequence of these alterations, the glutamate resistant cells are also more resistant to organic hydroperoxides and anticancer drugs that affect these GSH enzymes. These results indicate that resistance to apoptotic oxidative stress may be acquired by coordinated changes in multiple antioxidant pathways.

Heat shock protein and p53 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Heat shock proteins have been associated with the mutant form of the tumor suppressor gene, TP53, and with resistance to cancer chemotherapy.

METHODS

Archival tissues from 50 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who received primary surgical resection were examined for p53, HSP27, and HSP70 by immunohistochemistry and correlated with tumor stage, grade, and 5-year survival (alive or deceased).

RESULTS

Both heat shock proteins were strongly expressed in normal mucosa and in small (T1 and T2) tumors. Thirty (60%) of tumors were positive for p53, 43 (86%) for HSP27, and 34 (68%) for HSP70, with no association between p53 and heat shock protein expression. Twenty-five patients were alive (4 with disease), and 25 patients were deceased (9 from other causes). p53 Protein overexpression correlated with low-grade tumors. Only primary tumor site (i.e., oral cavity > larynx > oropharynx/base of tongue) and N stage were significantly associated with survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Heat shock proteins are expressed in normal upper respiratory tract squamous mucosa, and their role in carcinoma remains unclear. None of the markers, p53, HSP27, or HSP70, demonstrated prognostic significance for 5-year survival. We confirm the recognized association of cervical lymph node metastases with decreased survival.

Heat shock proteins hsp27 and hsp70: lack of correlation with response to tamoxifen and clinical course of disease in estrogen receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer (a Southwest Oncology Group Study)

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that heat shock proteins (hsps) 27 and 70 are associated with clinical resistance to tamoxifen. hsp27 is, like progesterone receptor, an estrogen-regulated protein. hsp70 is also of interest because of its interaction with estrogen receptors and because hsp70 is a component of the molecular chaperone machinery functioning in the assembly and trafficking of steroid receptors. In addition, hsps in general help protect cells against noxious stimuli and stress, and their expression has been linked to drug resistance. The study involved 205 tumors from estrogen receptor-positive tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients with metastatic disease. All patients received daily tamoxifen as initial therapy for metastatic disease. The study began in 1982, and follow-up is now 9 years. hsp27 and hsp70 were detected by immunohistochemistry and scored according to the nuclear and/or cytoplasmic content. Expression of hsp27 or hsp70 was unrelated to estrogen receptor content, progesterone receptor content, menopausal status, age, and presence of visceral disease. Cytoplasmic and nuclear hsp27 positivities were weakly and inversely related to each other (P = 0.05). There was a significant association between cytoplasmic hsp27 and cytoplasmic hsp70 content (P < 0.001), as well as between nuclear hsp70 and nuclear hsp27 content (P = 0.001). Cytoplasmic and nuclear hsp70 were also associated (P = 0.02). However, increased hsp27 and hsp70 expression (nuclear or cytoplasmic) was not significantly associated with response to tamoxifen, time to treatment failure, or survival. Thus, this study clarifies the lack of clinical utility of hsp27 and hsp70 in predicting the response to tamoxifen in an estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer population.

Cultured skin fibroblasts isolated from mice devoid of the prion protein gene express major heat shock proteins in response to heat stress

Recent evidence has suggested that molecular chaperones participate in the conformational change between the normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) and its scrapie isoform (PrPSc). To study a role of PrPC in the regulation of expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), a group of molecular chaperones, heat-induced expression of major HSPs (HSP105, HSP90alpha, HSP72, HSC70, HSP60, and HSP25) was investigated in cultured skin fibroblasts isolated from the mice homogeneous for a disrupted PrP gene (PrP-/- mice) by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. Two lines of fibroblasts were established and designated SFK derived from the PrP-/- mice and SFH derived from the PrP+/+ mice, respectively. In both SFK and SFH cells, HSP105, HSP72, and HSP25 were expressed at low levels under unstressed conditions but they were induced markedly following exposure to heat stress (43 degreesC/20 min) at 3-72 h postrecovery. In both cell types, HSC70 and HSP60 were expressed at high levels under unstressed conditions and their levels remained unchanged after heat shock treatment. HSP90alpha was undetectable in both cell types under any conditions examined. The pattern of expression, induction, and subcellular location of HSP105, HSP72, HSC70, HSP60, and HSP25 was not significantly different between SFK and SFH cells under unstressed and heat-stressed conditions. Furthermore, the levels of constitutive expression of HSP105, HSC70, HSP60, and HSP25 were similar between the brain tissues isolated from the PrP-/- and PrP+/+ mice. These results indicate that HSP induction is not affected by either the existence or the absence of PrPC in the cells.

Thrombin activates MAPKAP2 kinase in vascular smooth muscle

PURPOSE

Thrombin mediates hemostasis by promoting thrombus development and vasospasm, which reduces the size of the arterial injury. Thrombin stimulation of vascular smooth muscle is associated with activation of mitogen-associated protein kinase. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the subsequent cellular signaling events in thrombin-stimulated vascular smooth muscle contraction.

METHODS

Contractile responses of bovine carotid artery smooth muscle were determined in a muscle bath and compared with phosphorylation events with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The activity of a novel kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein-2 kinase (MAPKAP2 kinase), was determined by immunoprecipitation and a phosphotransferase assay. A small heat shock protein, HSP27, was identified with immunoblotting.

RESULTS

Thrombin induces contraction of vascular smooth muscle and is associated with increased activity of MAPKAP2 kinase and increased phosphorylation of HSP27. Multiple isoforms of HSP27 are the predominant phosphoproteins in vascular smooth muscle, and peptide mapping suggests that the isoforms of HSP27 are structurally related and phosphorylated within similar peptide sequences.

CONCLUSIONS

Activation of the MAPKAP2 kinase pathway and phosphorylation of HSP27 are associated with thrombin-induced contraction of vascular smooth muscle.

Heat shock protein 72 restores cyclic AMP accumulation after heat shock in N18TG2 cells

Although there are several reports on the alteration of intracellular signal transduction during heat shock in somatic cells, the long term effects of heat shock on neuronal cells remain unknown. In this report, we investigated cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation and the expression of heat shock proteins following heat shock in mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 cells. Basal cAMP accumulation, or that stimulated by serotonin (10 microM), cholera toxin (1 microg/ml), and forskolin (1 microM) was suppressed at 0, 3, and 6 h following heat shock (45 degrees C for 30 min). The cAMP levels were restored at 15 and 24 h after heat shock, corresponding with the expression of stress-induced heat shock protein 72 (HSP72). Quercetin, an inhibitor of HSP expression, decreased the expression of HSP72 and inhibited the recovery of cAMP levels 24 h after heat shock. Quercetin also decreased the basal expression of the constitutive heat shock cognate protein 70 (HSC70) and suppressed cAMP accumulation in non-heat shocked cells. These results suggest that stress-induced HSP72 restores cAMP accumulation to control levels following heat shock and that constitutive HSC70 is related to cAMP levels in non-stress conditions.

Stage-specific expression and cellular localization of the heat shock factor 2 isoforms in the rat seminiferous epithelium

Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are generally known as regulators of cellular stress response. The mammalian HSF1 functions as a classical stress factor, whereas HSF2 is active during certain developmental processes, including embryogenesis and spermatogenesis. In the present study, we examined HSF2 expression at specific stages of the rat seminiferous epithelial cycle. We found that expression of the alternatively spliced HSF2-alpha and HSF2-beta isoforms is developmentally regulated in a stage-specific manner. Studies on cellular localization demonstrated that HSF2 is present in the nuclei of early pachytene spermatocytes at stages I-IV and in the nuclei of round spermatids at stages V-VIIab. In contrast a strong HSF2 immunoreactivity was detected in small distinct cytoplasmic regions from zygotene spermatocytes to maturation phase spermatids. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis revealed that these structures are mainly cytoplasmic bridges between germ cells. Our results on cellular localization of HSF2 and stage-specific expression of the HSF2 isoforms indicate that HSF2, in addition to its function as a nuclear transcription factor, may be involved in other cellular processes during spermatogenesis, possibly in the sharing process of gene products between the germ cells.

Heat shock protein 27: an independent prognostic indicator of survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is produced in response to pathophysiologic stress in animal cells. The purpose of this study was to determine prospectively whether HSP27 was associated with known prognostic factors as well as survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

METHODS

Ninety-nine patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma were studied. Slides were prepared from fresh tissue. Patient records were examined for FIGO stage, grade, histology, level of cytoreduction, and survival.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical staining for HSP27 was not related to histologic grade, level of cytoreduction or histologic subtype. A statistically significant difference in HSP27 staining was found in relation to FIGO stage (P = 0.013). HSP27 staining was found to be an independent predictor of 2-year survival in these patients (P = 0.041).

CONCLUSION

The level of HSP27 significantly decreases as the FIGO stage increases and is an independent prognostic indicator of survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Dissociation of force production from MHC and actin contents in muscles injured by eccentric contractions

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between myosin heavy chain (MHC) and actin contents and maximum isometric tetanic force (Po) in mouse extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles following eccentric contraction-induced injury. Po and protein contents were measured in injured (n = 80) and contralateral control (n = 80) EDL muscles at the following time points after in vivo injury: sham, 0, 0.25, 1, 3, 5, 14, and 28 days. Po was reduced by 37 +/- 2.3% to 49 +/- 3.8% (p < or = 0.05), while MHC and actin contents were unaltered from 0 to 3 days after injury. Whereas Po partially recovered between 3 and 5 days (from -49 +/- 3.8% to -35 +/- 3.6%), MHC and actin contents in the injured muscles declined by 19 +/- 4.9% and 20 +/- 5.3%, respectively, by 5 days compared with control muscles. Decrements in Po were similar to the reductions in MHC and actin contents at 14 (approximately 24%) and 28 (approximately 11%) days. Evaluation of myofibrillar and soluble protein fractions indicated significant reductions in the content of major proteins at 5 and 14 days. Immunoblots of heat shock protein 72 revealed elevations starting at 0.25 days, peaking during 1-3 days, and declining after 5 days. These findings indicate that decreased contractile protein content is not related to the initial decrease in Po. However, decreased MHC and actin contents could account for 58% of the Po reduction at 5 days, and for nearly all the decrements in Po from 14 to 28 days.

Heterogeneity in heat shock protein genes in Leishmania isolates

Leishmaniasis, a group of visceral and cutaneous diseases, is caused by parasites belonging to one genus comprising approximately 13 different species. Many methods including serological, biochemical and molecular biological techniques have been used by various workers to characterize these different species and isolates of Leishmania, yet there is no single generally accepted criterion. We have identified certain cDNA clones from a library generated from the promastigotes of S1 strain of Leishmania donovani and used them as probes for identification of various isolates of L. donovani and Leishmania tropica. Two of the probes used, E2b (2.0 kb) and E1a (1.3 kb), sequence characterized to be hsp70 of Leishmania, were able to distinguish various isolates of L. donovani from different geographical origins as well as strains of L. donovani from those of L. tropica. Thus, by using recombinant hsp70 cDNA probes, the data indicated that there is a considerable degree of heterogeneity in the heat-shock genes of Leishmania.

Heat shock and thermotolerance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a model beef gravy system and ground beef

Duplicate beef gravy or ground beef samples inoculated with a suspension of a four-strain cocktail of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were subjected to sublethal heating at 46 degrees C for 15-30 min, and then heated to a final internal temperature of 60 degrees C. Survivor curves were fitted using a linear model that incorporated a lag period (TL), and D-values and 'time to a 4D inactivation' (T4D) were calculated. Heat-shocking allowed the organism to survive longer than non-heat-shocked cells; the T4D values at 60 degrees C increased 1.56- and 1.50-fold in beef gravy and ground beef, respectively. In ground beef stored at 4 degrees C, thermotolerance was lost after storage for 14 h. However, heat-shocked cells appeared to maintain their thermotolerance for at least 24 h in ground beef held to 15 or 28 degrees C. A 25 min heat shock at 46 degrees C in beef gravy resulted in an increase in the levels of two proteins with apparent molecular masses of 60 and 69 kDa. These two proteins were shown to be immunologically related to GroEL and DnaK, respectively. Increased heat resistance due to heat shock must be considered while designing thermal processes to assure the microbiological safety of thermally processed foods.

Hsp90-containing multiprotein complexes in the eukaryotic microbe Achlya

In the oomycete fungus Achlya ambisexualis, hyphae of the male strain undergo sexual differentiation in the presence of the steroid hormone antheridiol. Earlier studies demonstrated that antheridiol binds with high affinity to a 9S multiprotein complex from A. ambisexualis cytosols. Although these complexes were found to contain the heat shock protein Hsp90, the other components were not known. It was of interest to determine if any of the other protein components in the Achlya Hsp90-heterocomplexes would be homologous to those found in the steroid receptor-Hsp90-heterocomplexes of vertebrates. Cytosolic proteins of 110 kDa, 74 kDa, 64 kDa, 61 kDa, 56 kDa, 47 kDa, 27 kDa and 23 kDa, were found in repeated trials, to co-immunoprecipitate with Achlya Hsp90. The 74 kDa protein was identified as the heat shock protein Hsp70, the 23 kDa protein was found to be related to the vertebrate protein p23 and the 56 kDa protein was found to be related to immunophilin FKBP51. All three of these proteins are components of the vertebrate receptor heterocomplexes. The 110 kDa, 61 kDa and 27 kDa proteins appeared to be unique to the Achlya complexes. Unlike the seven other proteins co-immunoprecipitating with Hsp90, the 61 kDa protein was observed only in the co-immunoprecipitates produced from in vitro translates of RNA isolated from antheridiol-treated mycelia.

Post-ischemic alterations in [3H]FK506 binding in the gerbil and rat brains

We investigated post-ischemic changes in FK506 binding protein (FKBP) in the brain after transient global ischemia in gerbils or transient focal ischemia in rats. [3H]FK506 was used to label FKBP as a immunophilin. In transient global ischemia, [3H]FK506 binding showed a transient reduction in the frontal cortex only 1 h after recirculation. In the striatum, the dorsolateral part exhibited a significant increase in [3H]FK506 binding 5, 24 and 48 h after ischemia. However, the ventromedial part showed a transient elevation in [3H]FK506 binding 24 h after ischemia. Thereafter, the ventromedial part showed no conspicuous change in [3H]FK506 binding up to 7 days after ischemia. The dorsolateral part also showed no significant change in [3H]FK506 binding 7 days after ischemia. In the hippocampus and thalamus, [3H]FK506 binding was unchanged in the stratum radiatum of the hippocampal CA1 sector, hippocampal CA3 sector, dentate gyrus and thalamus up to 7 days after ischemia. However, the stratum oriens of the hippocampal CA1 sector showed a significant reduction in [3H]FK506 binding 48 h and 7 days after ischemia. A histological study showed that transient cerebral ischemia caused a severe damage in the striatum and hippocampal CA1 sector. In a model of transient focal ischemia, a marked increase in [3H]FK506 binding was also found in the striatum and cerebral cortex where severe infarctions were observed. These results demonstrate that post-ischemic change in [3H]FK506 binding between the striatum and hippocampus may be produced by different mechanisms. Furthermore, our findings suggest that immunophilins may play some role in the pathogenesis of ischemic diseases.

Improved free musculocutaneous flap survival with induction of heat shock protein

The cellular response to a wide variety of stresses results in the synthesis of a family of stress response proteins termed heat shock proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated that heat shock proteins produced in response to an initial stress seem to protect against subsequent unrelated stresses. Importantly, hyperthermia-induced heat shock proteins provided protection from ischemia/reperfusion injury in several organ transplantation models. We hypothesized that free musculocutaneous flap survival could be improved by enhancing the flap's tolerance to relative ischemia by the prior induction of heat shock proteins. Accordingly, we determined the heat shock protein response in skin and muscle after systemic or local heating and examined the effect on free musculocutaneous flap survival in a rat model. Free musculocutaneous flaps incorporating thigh adductor muscles and a 2 x 6-cm2 skin paddle were transplanted to the ipsilateral groin in three groups of male Wistar rats. Systemically heated rats (n = 6) were anesthetized and incubated for 30 minutes at 42 degrees C 6 hours before free musculocutaneous tissue transfer. Locally heated rats (n = 6) were anesthetized, and their donor site anterior thigh was placed for 30 minutes on a heating block set at 44 degrees C 6 hours before free tissue transfer. Control rats (n = 5) did not have heating pretreatment but underwent identical anesthesia. Animals were sacrificed on postoperative day 3, at which time skin loss (cm2) and muscle viability, quantified by nitroblue tetrazolium staining time, were assessed in a blinded fashion. The skin and muscle from the free flap were analyzed for HSP72 mRNA and protein using quantitative Northern and Western blot techniques. All free musculocutaneous flaps were viable. However, the locally and systemically heated rats demonstrated a marked improvement of skin survival, which correlated with increased skin levels of HSP72. There were no differences in nitroblue tetrazolium muscle staining times or muscle levels of HSP72 among the three groups. These findings suggest that prior heat-induced heat shock proteins result in improvement in musculocutaneous flap survival, which may have direct clinical applications, especially in high-risk patients.

Mitochondrial localization and temporal expression of the Drosophila melanogaster DnaJ homologous tumor suppressor Tid50

The Drosophila melanogaster tumor suppressor gene lethal(2)tumorous imaginal discs (tid) was identified as a homolog of all dnaJ-like genes known to date which have been well preserved in evolution. Homozygous D. melanogaster l(2)tid mutants l(2)tid1, l(2)tid2 and l(2)tid3 are characterized by neoplastic transformation of the adult integumental primordia, the imaginal discs, and the death at the time of puparium formation. The first part of this study is concerned with the identification and subcellular localization of the l(2)tid-encoded protein, Tid50. The second part examines its tissue specific expression during wild-type development and in tumorous imaginal discs. To specify the function(s) of the Tid50 protein polyclonal rabbit antibodies directed against various domains of it were generated and used for staining of Western blots and whole-mounts and paraffin sections of various tissues isolated from wild-type and mutant tumor-developing animals. To identify the mutational events leading in homozygous l(2)tid mutants to abnormal expression level of l(2)tid-encoded RNA and protein, the mutant gene was isolated from homozygous l(2)tid1 and l(2)tid2 animals and sequenced.

Characterization of a 54-kDa heat-shock-inducible protein of Pasteurella haemolytica

Growth-condition-dependent antigens play a role in the virulence or protective capacity of many organisms. Enhanced production of an approximately 54-kDa protein was detected in heat-shocked cultures of Pasteurella haemolytica. The heat-shock-inducible protein cross-reacted with antibodies to 60-kDa heat-shock proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Chlamydia, and Escherichia coli GroEL. A probe containing the E. coli groEL operon hybridized with fragments of P. haemolytica chromosomal DNA on Southern blots. Immunoblots of the 54-kDa protein using serum from 20 calves that were challenged experimentally with P. haemolytica resulted in band densities that were significantly different between calves with high and low lesion scores. Results of the study suggest that the 54-kDa heat-shock protein may be a growth-condition-dependent immunogen that is one component of resistance to pneumonic pasteurellosis.

Cross-reactivity of specific antibodies directed to heat shock proteins from periodontopathogenic bacteria and of human origin [corrected]

This study describes the immunological characterization of two different classes of heat shock proteins isolated from periodontopathogenic bacteria. Analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of a 74-kDa protein from Bacteroides forsythus showed a high degree of homology with the DnaK protein from Escherichia coli. However, this heat shock protein from B. forsythus reacted very weakly with a commercial anti-DnaK polyclonal antibody by dot-blotting. GroEL-like proteins isolated from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and B. forsythus showed a high degree of homology of their N-terminal amino acid sequences. In general, polyclonal antibodies raised against each GroEL-like protein showed a high level of cross-reactivity. The cross-reactivity of antibodies to bacterial DnaK-like proteins was much more limited. Our findings suggest that DnaK- and GroEL-like proteins from periodontal pathogens are well conserved and that the GroEL-like proteins resemble each other more closely.

ATP releases HSP-72 from protein aggregates after renal ischemia

The pattern of 72-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP-72) induction after renal ischemia suggests a role in restoring cell structure. HSP-72 activity in the repair and release from denatured and aggregated proteins requires ATP. Protein aggregates were purified from normal and ischemic rat renal cortex. The addition of ATP to cortical homogenates reduced HSP-72, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, and actin in aggregates subsequently isolated, suggesting that their interaction is ATP dependent. Altering ATP hydrolysis in the purified aggregates, however, had different effects. ATP released HSP-72 during reflow and preserved Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase association with aggregates at 2 h but had no effect in controls or at 6 h reflow and caused no change in actin. These results indicate that HSP-72 complexes with aggregated cellular proteins in an ATP-dependent manner and suggests that enhancing HSP-72 function after ischemic renal injury assists refolding and stabilization of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase or aggregated elements of the cytoskeleton, allowing reassembly into a more organized state.