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Current Neurovascular Research

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1567-2026
ISSN (Online): 1875-5739

Protective Effect of Heat Shock Proteins in the Nervous System

Author(s): David S. Latchman

Volume 1, Issue 1, 2004

Page: [21 - 27] Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/1567202043480206

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Abstract

The heat shock proteins (hsps) are expressed in normal cells but their expression is enhanced by a number of different stresses including heat and ischemia. They play important roles in chaperoning the folding of other proteins and in protein degradation. In the brain, a number of studies have shown that prior induction of the hsps by a mild stress has a protective effect against a more severe stress. Moreover, over-expression of an individual hsp in neuronal cells in culture and in the intact brain either of transgenic animals or using virus vectors also produces a protective effect, directly demonstrating the ability of the hsps to produce protection. These findings indicate the potential importance of developing procedures for elevating hsp expression in a safe and efficient manner in human individuals either using pharmacological or gene therapy procedures.

Keywords: heat shock proteins, neuronal cells, brain, stress, protection, virus vectors, transgenic animals, gene therapy


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