Urinary heat shock protein-72 excretion in clinical and experimental renal ischemia

Renal ischemia not only causes injury but also induces repair mechanisms, such as the cellular induction of the 72-kilodalton heat shock protein HSP-72. The aim of this study was to determine whether HSP-72 is excreted in urine after ischemic renal injury. The first urine of six pediatric allograft recipients was examined for proteinuria and urinary HSP-72 excretion. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with renal ischemia or hyperthermia and renal cortex and urinary HSP-72 levels were determined. HSP-72 was excreted in the first urine of renal allografts. In rats, renal HSP-72 was induced both by renal ischemia or hyperthermia. However, only renal ischemia resulted in urinary excretion of HSP-72. Urinary excretion of HSP-72 indicates an increased renal stress response and loss of tubular cell integrity after clinical and experimental renal ischemia.