Heat shock protein gene expression profile may differentiate between rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and healthy controls
Abstract
Heat shock proteins (Hsps) have been repeatedly implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this work was to study Hsps mRNA and protein levels to determine if they can be used to differentitate between rheumatiod arthritis (RA), osteoarthrosis (OA) and healthy controls.
Hsp gene expression profiles differ significantly between inflammatory (RA) and non-inflammatory (OA) joint diseases showing significantly increased Hsp27 and Hsp90 mRNA levels in RA synovial tissues. Up-regulated Hsp60 and Hsp90 together with down-regulated Hsp70 and elevated HspBP1/Hsp70 mRNA ratios can be used to differentiate between RA patients and healthy individuals through analysis of peripheral blood samples.
Despite increased HspBP1 levels in RA sera, Hsp70 levels and the HspBP1/Hsp70 protein ratio remained identical in the RA patients and healthy individuals, which may contribute to the inhibition of Hsp70 anti-apoptotic activity. Hsp gene expression analysis can be implemented as a new diagnostic approach to facilitate differentiation between RA, OA and healthy controls.