Heat shock proteins: protective effect and potential therapeutic use (review)

The heat shock proteins (hsps) are induced by a variety of stressful stimuli and their overexpression has been shown to protect cells both in vitro and in vivo against such stimuli, as well as against stimuli-inducing apoptosis. The potential therapeutic benefit of elevating hsp levels in individuals with, for example, cerebral or cardiac ischaemia or neurodegenerative diseases has led to the identification of specific methods of inducing hsp expression in a non-stressful manner. These include pharmacological procedures and cytokine treatment to elevate endogenous hsp levels and the development of viral vectors to deliver exogenous hsp genes. The advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods and their ultimate therapeutic potential are discussed.