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Elevated HSP27 levels during attacks in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Ce P, Erkizan O, Gedizlioglu M.

Department of Neurology, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Bozyaka, Izmir, Turkey Department of Biochemistry, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Bozyaka, Izmir, Turkey.
Abstract
Ce P, Erkizan O, Gedizlioglu M. Elevated HSP27 levels during attacks in patients with multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurol Scand: DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2010.01475.x. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objectives -  The small heat shock protein, HSP27, has been shown to have a more potent protective effect in the nervous system. However, there is limited information about the behavior of HSP27 in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Thus, we investigated the HSP27 levels during relapse and remission phases of MS. Materials and Methods -  A total of 50 relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS patients and 45 age- and gender-matched controls without any systemic diseases were enrolled. HSP27 levels were serologically detected in serum samples of both controls and MS patients during acute attacks and after a minimum of 2 months of each individual attack. Results -  The mean HSP27 level was 12.41 ± 18.21 ng/ml in the attack phase, 4.58 ± 4.75 ng/ml during remission, and 2.58 ± 3.88 ng/ml in control patients. The heat shock proteins (HSP) levels of MS patients in the attack phase were significantly higher than those obtained in the remission phase (P = 0.005). Moreover, HSP levels in the attack and remission phases of MS patients were also significantly higher when compared to controls (P = 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). While there was no correlation between HSP27 levels in the attack phase and age, disease duration, or expanded disability status scale scores (P = 0.69, P = 0.32, and P = 0.91, respectively), a positive correlation was observed between the HSP27 levels and the total attack number (P = 0.001). Conclusions -  Our findings revealed a marked elevation in HSP27 levels during the relapse phase. Therefore, it can be suggested that elevated HSP27 levels may guide in the accurate detection of an attack in patients with MS.

Cell Stress Chaperones. 2010 Aug 30. [Epub ahead of print]
Heat shock proteins as biomarkers for the rapid detection of brain and spinal cord ischemia: a review and comparison to other methods of detection in thoracic aneurysm repair.
Hecker JG, McGarvey M.

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, 305 Morgan, 3620 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6112, USA, heckerj@uphs.upenn.edu.

Abstract

The heat shock proteins (HSPs) are members of highly conserved families of molecular chaperones that have multiple roles in vivo. We discuss the HSPs in general, and Hsp70 and Hsp27 in particular, and their rapid induction by severe stress in the context of tissue and organ expression in physiology and disease. We describe the current state of knowledge of the relationship and interactions between extra- and intracellular HSPs and describe mechanisms and significance of extracellular expression of HSPs. We focus on the role of the heat shock proteins as biomarkers of central nervous system (CNS) ischemia and other severe stressors and discuss recent and novel technologies for rapid measurement of proteins in vivo and ex vivo. The HSPs are compared to other proposed small molecule biomarkers for detection of CNS injury and to other methods of detecting brain and spinal cord ischemia in real time. While other biomarkers may be of use in prognosis and in design of appropriate therapies, none appears to be as rapid as the HSPs; therefore, no other measurement appears to be of use in the immediate detection of ongoing severe ischemia with the intention to immediately intervene to reduce the severity or risk of permanent damage.

Results -  The mean HSP27 level was 12.41 ± 18.21 ng/ml in the attack phase, 4.58 ± 4.75 ng/ml during remission, and 2.58 ± 3.88 ng/ml in control patients. The heat shock proteins (HSP) levels of MS patients in the attack phase were significantly higher than those obtained in the remission phase (P = 0.005).