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Updated: Aug 2, 2026

Intracellular Refolding Assay
Published on: January 24, 2012
p53-dependent regulation of heat shock protein 72
L A Quenneville1, M J Trotter, T Maeda
1Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Background:
p53 is a key regulator of the cellular stress response. p53 modulates the transcription of several genes.
Objectives:
To examine the influence of p53 on expression of heat shock protein 72 (HSP72).
Methods:
Two model systems were used. (i) HSP72 expression was studied by Western blot on extracts from p53-proficient or p53-deficient primary mouse keratinocytes, and (ii) archival human anogenital skin from fibroepithelial polyps, human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18-associated lesions or squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) was subjected to immunostaining for HSP72.
Results:
Basal HSP72 expression was higher in keratinocytes from p53-deficient than from p53-proficient mice. Immunostaining for HSP72 was higher in HPV 16/18 lesions and SCCs, which have reduced p53 protein.
Conclusions:
p53 status may influence the basal level of HSP72.
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