The stress or heat shock (HS) response: insights from transgenic mouse models

Since its discovery, stress or heat shock (HS) response has been widely studied as a paradigm for gene regulation. From control of gene expression to function and involvement in pathological processes, different aspects of the stress response have received extended attention and investigation by various approaches, using small analyzing molecules, cells and organisms. This chapter is focused on animal models, such as transgenic mice that allow integrated analysis of intact organisms in physiological and pathological conditions. Genetically modified mice, developed to generate gain- and loss-of-function, are described. The challenges of using the transgenic mouse model are also discussed.