[Stress proteins: their growing significance in medicine]

In response to a variety of "emergencies", cells produce several stress proteins (heat shock proteins, HSP) that provide them with higher resistance and are able to repair protein damage. Their expression is regulated by heat shock transcription factors. Stress proteins are arousing growing interest in medicine, as major antigens in some infections and certain autoimmune diseases and also because of their possible involvement in the development and therapy of cancer. Elevated levels of stress proteins protect tissues and organs against ischemic injury and reduce infarct size. Stress proteins may also serve as a marker in diagnostic studies and in toxicology.