Heat shock protein 22: A new direction for cardiovascular disease (Review)

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are common molecular chaperone proteins that function in various biological processes, and serve indispensable roles in maintaining cellular protein homeostasis and regulating the hydrolysis of unfolded proteins. HSP22 is a member of the sHSP family that is primarily expressed in the heart and skeletal muscle, as well as in various types of cancer. There have been important findings concerning the role of HSP22 in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to provide insights into the various molecular mechanisms by which HSP22 functions in the heart, including oxidative stress, autophagy, apoptosis, the subcellular distribution of proteins and the promoting effect of proteasomes. In addition, drugs and cytokines, including geranylgeranylacetone, can exert protective effects on the heart by regulating the expression of HSP22. Based on increasingly abundant research, HSP22 may be considered a potential therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases.