Detection of stress proteins as biomarkers of oxidative stress

Heat shock or stress proteins are constitutively expressed redox-sensitive proteins, the synthesis of which is induced in almost all organisms exposed to a range of stressors, including oxidative stress, heat shock, free radicals, UV radiation, and heavy metals. This unit details three methods, with supporting protocols, for their measurement in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, plasma, and serum. These are [(35)S]methionine protein labeling, immunoblotting, and ELISA.