Guidelines for the nomenclature of the human heat shock proteins

Genome-wide identification of the Hsp70 gene family in Penaeus chinensis and their response to environmental stress

The heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene family plays a crucial role in the response of organisms to environmental stress. However, it has not been systematically characterized in shrimp. In this study, we identified 25 PcHsp70 genes in the Penaeus chinensis genome. The encoded proteins were categorized into six subgroups based on phylogenetic relationships. Tandem duplication was the main driver of amplification in the PcHsp70 family, and the genes have experienced strong purifying selection during evolution. Transcriptome data analysis revealed that the 25 PcHsp70 members have different expression patterns in shrimp under conditions of low temperature, low salinity, and white spot syndrome virus infection. Among them, PcHsp70.11 was significantly induced under all three stress conditions, suggesting that this gene plays an important role in response to environmental stress in P. chinensis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically analyze the Hsp70 gene family in shrimp. The results provide important information on shrimp Hsp70s, contributing to a better understanding of the role of these genes in environmental stress and providing a basis for further functional studies.

Small molecule inhibitors targeting heat shock protein 90: An updated review

As a molecular chaperone, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) plays important roles in the folding, stabilization, activation, and degradation of over 500 client proteins, and is extensively involved in cell signaling, proliferation, and survival. Thus, it has emerged as an important target in a variety of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and viral infections. Therefore, targeted inhibition of HSP90 provides a valuable and promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HSP90-related diseases. This review aims to systematically summarize the progress of research on HSP90 inhibitors in the last five years, focusing on their structural features, design strategies, and biological activities. It will refer to the natural products and their derivatives (including novobiocin derivatives, deguelin derivatives, quinone derivatives, and terpenoid derivatives), and to synthetic small molecules (including resorcinol derivatives, pyrazoles derivatives, triazole derivatives, pyrimidine derivatives, benzamide derivatives, benzothiazole derivatives, and benzofuran derivatives). In addition, the major HSP90 small-molecule inhibitors that have moved into clinical trials to date are also presented here.

The human testis-enriched HSPA2 interacts with HIF-1α in epidermal keratinocytes, yet HIF-1α stability and HIF-1-dependent gene expression rely on the HSPA (HSP70) activity

The Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 (HIF-1) is essential for cellular adaptation to reduced oxygen levels. It also facilitates the maintenance and re-establishment of skin homeostasis. Among others, it is involved in regulating keratinocyte differentiation. The stability of the oxygen-liable HIF-1α subunit is regulated by various non-canonical oxygen-independent mechanisms, which among others involve Heat Shock Proteins of the A family (HSPA/HSP70). This group of highly homologous chaperones and proteostasis-controlling factors includes HSPA2, a unique member crucial for spermatogenesis and implicated in the regulation of keratinocyte differentiation. HIF-1 can control the HSPA2 gene expression. In this study, we revealed that HIF-1α is the first confirmed client of HSPA2 in human somatic cells. It colocalises and interacts directly with HSPA2 in the epidermis in situ and immortalised keratinocytes in vitro. Using an in vitro model based on HSPA2-overexpressing and HSPA2-deficient variants of immortalised keratinocytes we showed that changes in HSPA2 levels do not affect the levels and intracellular localisation of HIF-1α or influence the ability of HIF-1 to modulate target gene expression. However, HIF-1α stability in keratinocytes appears critically reliant on HSPAs as a group of functionally overlapping chaperones. In addition to HSPA2, HIF-1α colocalises and forms complexes with HSPA8 and HSPA1, representing housekeeping and stress-inducible HSPA family paralogs, respectively. Chemical inhibition of HSPA activity, but not paralog-specific knockdown of HSPA8 or HSPA1 expression reduced HIF-1α levels and HIF-1-dependent gene expression. These observations suggest that pharmacological targeting of HSPAs could prevent excessive HIF-1 signalling in pathological skin conditions.

Knockdown of heat shock protein family D member 1 (HSPD1) in lung cancer cell altered secretome profile and cancer-associated fibroblast induction

The crosstalk between lung cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) is pivotal in cancer progression. Heat shock protein family D member 1 (HSPD1) is a potential prognostic biomarker associated with the tumor microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the role of HSPD1 in CAF activation remains unclear. This study established stable HSPD1-knockdown A549 lung cancer cells using a lentivirus-mediated shRNA transduction. A targeted label-free proteomic analysis identified six significantly altered secretory proteins in the shHSPD1-A549 secretome compared to shControl-A549. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted their involvement in cell-to-cell communication and immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, most altered proteins exhibited positive correlations and significant prognostic impacts on LUAD patient survival. Investigations on the effects of lung cancer secretomes on lung fibroblast WI-38 cells revealed that the shControl-A549 secretome stimulated fibroblast proliferation, migration, and CAF marker expression. These effects were reversed upon the knockdown of HSPD1 in A549 cells. Altogether, our findings illustrate the role of HSPD1 in mediating CAF induction through secretory proteins, potentially contributing to the progression and aggressiveness of lung cancer.

Mutational landscape of HSP family on human breast cancer

Breast cancer (BRCA) is a prevalent malignancy with the highest incidence among females. BRCA can be categorized into five intrinsic molecular subtypes (LumA, LumB, HER2, Basal, and Normal), each characterized by varying molecular and clinical features determined by the expression of intrinsic genes (PAM50). The Heat Shock Protein (HSP) family is composed of 95 genes evolutionary conservated, they have critical roles in proteostasis in both normal and cancerous processes. Many studies have linked HSP to the development and spread of cancer. They modulate the activity of multiple proteins expressed by oncogenes and anti-oncogenes through a range of interactions. In this study, we evaluate the mutational changes that HSP undergoes in BRCA mainly from the TCGA database. We observe that Copy Number Variations (CNV) are the more frequent events analyzed surpassing the occurrence of point mutations, indels, and translation start site mutations. The Basal subtype showcased the highest count of amplified CNV, including subtype-specific changes, whereas the Luminals tumors accumulated the greatest number of deletion CNV. Meanwhile, the HER2 subtype exhibited a comparatively lower frequency of CNV alterations when compared to the other subtypes. This study integrates CNV and expression data, finding associations between these two variables and the influence of CNV on the deregulation of HSP expression. To enhance the role of HSP as a risk predictor in BRCA, we succeeded in identifying CNV profiles as a prognostic marker. We included Artificial Intelligence to improve the clustering of patients, and we achieved a molecular CNV signature as a significant risk factor independent of known classic markers, including molecular subtypes PAM50. This research enhances the comprehension of HSP DNA alterations in BRCA and its relation with predicting the risk of affected individuals providing insights to develop guide personalized treatment strategies.

Evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of heat shock proteins and their combination with Alpha-Fetoprotein in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

A growing body of research suggests that heat shock proteins (HSPs) may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but their results are still controversial. This meta-analysis endeavors to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of HSPs both independently and in conjunction with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as novel biomarkers for HCC detection.

METHODS

Pooled statistical indices, including sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), were computed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of HSPs, AFP, and their combinations. Additionally, the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve (AUC) was determined.

RESULTS

A total of 2013 HCC patients and 1031 control subjects from nine studies were included in this meta-analysis. The summary estimates for HSPs and AFP are as follows: sensitivity of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.69-0.85) compared to 0.73 (95% CI: 0.65-0.80); specificity of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.81-0.95) compared to 0.86 (95% CI: 0.77-0.91); PLR of 7.4 (95% CI: 3.7-14.9) compared to 5.1 (95% CI: 3.3-8.1); NLR of 0.24 (95% CI: 0.16-0.37) compared to 0.31 (95% CI: 0.24-0.41); DOR of 30.19 (95% CI: 10.68-85.37) compared to 16.34 (95% CI: 9.69-27.56); and AUC of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87-0.92) compared to 0.85 (95% CI: 0.82-0.88). The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR and AUC were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.82-0.95), 0.94 (95% CI: 0.82-0.98), 14.5 (95% CI: 4.6-45.4), 0.11 (95% CI: 0.06-0.20), 133.34 (95% CI: 29.65-599.61), and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94-0.98) for the combination of HSPs and AFP.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis suggests that HSPs have potential as a biomarker for clinical use in the diagnosis of HCC, and the concurrent utilization of HSPs and AFP shows notable diagnostic effectiveness for HCC.

Mitochondrial Chaperone Code: Just warming up

More than 99% of the mitochondrial proteome is encoded by the nucleus and requires refolding following import. Therefore, mitochondrial proteins require the coordinated action of molecular chaperones for their folding and activation. Several heat shock protein (Hsp) molecular chaperones, including members of the Hsp27, Hsp40/70, and Hsp90 families, as well as the chaperonin complex Hsp60/10 have an established role in mitochondrial protein import and folding. The "Chaperone Code" describes the regulation of chaperone activity by dynamic post-translational modifications; however, little is known about the post-translational regulation of mitochondrial chaperones. Dissecting the regulation of chaperone function is essential for understanding their differential regulation in pathogenic conditions and the potential development of efficacious therapeutic strategies. Here, we summarize the recent literature on post-translational regulation of mitochondrial chaperones, the consequences for mitochondrial function, and potential implications for disease.

Heat shock protein 72 supports extracellular matrix production in metastatic mammary tumors

This study identified tumorigenic processes most dependent on murine heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) in the mouse mammary tumor virus-PyMT mammary tumor model, which give rise to spontaneous mammary tumors that exhibit HSP72-dependent metastasis to the lung. RNA-seq expression profiling of Hspa1a/Hspa1b (Hsp72) WT and Hsp72-/- primary mammary tumors discovered significantly lower expression of genes encoding components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in Hsp72 knockout mammary tumors compared to WT controls. In vitro studies found that genetic or chemical inhibition of HSP72 activity in cultured collagen-expressing human or murine cells also reduces mRNA and protein levels of COL1A1 and several other ECM-encoding genes. In search of a possible mechanistic basis for this relationship, we found HSP72 to support the activation of the tumor growth factor-β-suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic-3 signaling pathway and evidence of suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic-3 and HSP72 coprecipitation, suggesting potential complex formation. Human COL1A1 mRNA expression was found to have prognostic value for HER2+ breast tumors over other breast cancer subtypes, suggesting a possible human disease context where targeting HSP72 may have a therapeutic rationale. Analysis of human HER2+ breast tumor gene expression data using a gene set comprising ECM-related gene and protein folding-related gene as an input to the statistical learning algorithm, Galgo, found a subset of these genes that can collectively stratify patients by relapse-free survival, further suggesting a potential interplay between the ECM and protein-folding genes may contribute to tumor progression.

Tertiary structure and conformational dynamics of the anti-amyloidogenic chaperone DNAJB6b at atomistic resolution

DNAJB6b is a molecular chaperone of the heat shock protein network, shown to play a crucial role in preventing aggregation of several disease-related intrinsically disordered proteins. Using homology modeling and microsecond-long all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we show that monomeric DNAJB6b is a transiently interconverting protein cycling between three states: a closed state, an open state (both abundant), and a less abundant extended state. Interestingly, the reported regulatory autoinhibitory anchor between helix V in the G/F1 region and helices II/III of the J-domain, which obstructs the access of Hsp70 to the J-domain remains present in all three states. This possibly suggests a mechanistically intriguing regulation in which DNAJB6b only becomes exposed when loaded with substrates that require Hsp70 processing. Our MD results of DNAJB6b carrying mutations in the G/F1 region that are linked to limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type D1 (LGMDD1) show that this G/F1 region becomes highly dynamic, pointing towards a spontaneous release of the autoinhibitory helix V from helices II/III. This would increase the probability of non-functional Hsp70 interactions to DNAJB6b without substrates. Our cellular data indeed confirm that non-substrate loaded LGMDD1 mutants have aberrant interactions with Hsp70.

Heat Shock Proteins, a Double-Edged Sword: Significance in Cancer Progression, Chemotherapy Resistance and Novel Therapeutic Perspectives

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are involved in one of the adaptive mechanisms protecting cells against environmental and metabolic stress. Moreover, the large role of these proteins in the carcinogenesis process, as well as in chemoresistance, was noticed. This review aims to draw attention to the possibilities of using Hsps in developing new cancer therapy methods, as well as to indicate directions for future research on this topic. In order to discuss this matter, a thorough review of the latest scientific literature was carried out, taking into account the importance of selected proteins from the Hsp family, including Hsp27, Hsp40, Hsp60, Hsp70, Hsp90 and Hsp110. One of the more characteristic features of all Hsps is that they play a multifaceted role in cancer progression, which makes them an obvious target for modern anticancer therapy. Some researchers emphasize the importance of directly inhibiting the action of these proteins. In turn, others point to their possible use in the design of cancer vaccines, which would work by inducing an immune response in various types of cancer. Due to these possibilities, it is believed that the use of Hsps may contribute to the progress of oncoimmunology, and thus help in the development of modern anticancer therapies, which would be characterized by higher effectiveness and lower toxicity to the patients.

Heat Shock Response and Heat Shock Proteins: Current Understanding and Future Opportunities in Human Diseases

The heat shock response is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that protects cells or organisms from the harmful effects of various stressors such as heat, chemicals toxins, UV radiation, and oxidizing agents. The heat shock response triggers the expression of a specific set of genes and proteins known as heat shock genes/proteins or molecular chaperones, including HSP100, HSP90, HSP70, HSP60, and small HSPs. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play a crucial role in thermotolerance and aiding in protecting cells from harmful insults of stressors. HSPs are involved in essential cellular functions such as protein folding, eliminating misfolded proteins, apoptosis, and modulating cell signaling. The stress response to various environmental insults has been extensively studied in organisms from prokaryotes to higher organisms. The responses of organisms to various environmental stressors rely on the intensity and threshold of the stress stimuli, which vary among organisms and cellular contexts. Studies on heat shock proteins have primarily focused on HSP70, HSP90, HSP60, small HSPs, and ubiquitin, along with their applications in human biology. The current review highlighted a comprehensive mechanism of heat shock response and explores the function of heat shock proteins in stress management, as well as their potential as therapeutic agents and diagnostic markers for various diseases.

HSPA9/mortalin inhibition disrupts erythroid maturation through a TP53-dependent mechanism in human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell malignancies characterized by abnormal hematopoietic cell maturation, increased apoptosis of bone marrow cells, and anemia. They are the most common myeloid blood cancers in American adults. The full complement of gene mutations that contribute to the phenotypes or clinical symptoms in MDS is not fully understood. Around 10%-25% of MDS patients harbor an interstitial heterozygous deletion on the long arm of chromosome 5 [del(5q)], creating haploinsufficiency for a large set of genes, including HSPA9. The HSPA9 gene encodes for the protein mortalin, a highly conserved heat shock protein predominantly localized in mitochondria. Our prior study showed that knockdown of HSPA9 induces TP53-dependent apoptosis in human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells. In this study, we explored the role of HSPA9 in regulating erythroid maturation using human CD34+ cells. We inhibited the expression of HSPA9 using gene knockdown and pharmacological inhibition and found that inhibition of HSPA9 disrupted erythroid maturation as well as increased expression of p53 in CD34+ cells. To test whether the molecular mechanism of HSPA9 regulating erythroid maturation is TP53-dependent, we knocked down HSPA9 and TP53 individually or in combination in human CD34+ cells. We found that the knockdown of TP53 partially rescued the erythroid maturation defect induced by HSPA9 knockdown, suggesting that the defect in cells with reduced HSPA9 expression is TP53-dependent. Collectively, these findings indicate that reduced levels of HSPA9 may contribute to the anemia observed in del(5q)-associated MDS patients due to the activation of TP53.

Heat shock protein paradigms in cancer progression: future therapeutic perspectives

Heat-shock proteins (HSPs), also known as stress proteins, are ubiquitously present in all forms of life. They play pivotal roles in protein folding and unfolding, the formation of multiprotein complexes, the transportation and sorting of proteins into their designated subcellular compartments, the regulation of the cell cycle, and signalling processes. These HSPs encompass HSP27, HSP40, HSP70, HSP60, and HSP90, each contributing to various cellular functions. In the context of cancer, HSPs exert influence by either inhibiting or activating diverse signalling pathways, thereby impacting growth, differentiation, and cell division. This article offers an extensive exploration of the functions of HSPs within the realms of pharmacology and cancer biology. HSPs are believed to play substantial roles in the mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of cancer. They hold promise as valuable clinical markers for cancer diagnosis, potential targets for therapeutic interventions, and indicators of disease progression. In times of cellular stress, HSPs function as molecular chaperones, safeguarding the structural and functional integrity of proteins and aiding in their proper folding. Moreover, HSPs play a crucial role in cancer growth, by regulating processes such as angiogenesis, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis.

Mrj is a chaperone of the Hsp40 family that regulates Orb2 oligomerization and long-term memory in Drosophila

Orb2 the Drosophila homolog of cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) protein forms prion-like oligomers. These oligomers consist of Orb2A and Orb2B isoforms and their formation is dependent on the oligomerization of the Orb2A isoform. Drosophila with a mutation diminishing Orb2A's prion-like oligomerization forms long-term memory but fails to maintain it over time. Since this prion-like oligomerization of Orb2A plays a crucial role in the maintenance of memory, here, we aim to find what regulates this oligomerization. In an immunoprecipitation-based screen, we identify interactors of Orb2A in the Hsp40 and Hsp70 families of proteins. Among these, we find an Hsp40 family protein Mrj as a regulator of the conversion of Orb2A to its prion-like form. Mrj interacts with Hsp70 proteins and acts as a chaperone by interfering with the aggregation of pathogenic Huntingtin. Unlike its mammalian homolog, we find Drosophila Mrj is neither an essential gene nor causes any gross neurodevelopmental defect. We observe a loss of Mrj results in a reduction in Orb2 oligomers. Further, Mrj knockout exhibits a deficit in long-term memory and our observations suggest Mrj is needed in mushroom body neurons for the regulation of long-term memory. Our work implicates a chaperone Mrj in mechanisms of memory regulation through controlling the oligomerization of Orb2A and its association with the translating ribosomes.

HSP90: A promising target for NSCLC treatments

The emergence of targeted therapies and immunotherapies has improved the overall survival of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the 5-year survival rate remains low. New drugs are needed to overcome this dilemma. Moreover, the significant correlation between various client proteins of heat-shock protein (HSP) 90 and tumor occurrence, progression, and drug resistance suggests that HSP90 is a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC. However, the outcomes of clinical trials for HSP90 inhibitors have been disappointing, indicating significant toxicity of these drugs and that further screening of the beneficiary population is required. NSCLC patients with oncogenic-driven gene mutations or those at advanced stages who are resistant to multi-line treatments may benefit from HSP90 inhibitors. Enhancing the therapeutic efficacy and reducing the toxicity of HSP90 inhibitors can be achieved via the optimization of their drug structure, using them in combination therapies with low-dose HSP90 inhibitors and other drugs, and via targeted administration to tumor lesions. Here, we provide a review of the recent research on the role of HSP90 in NSCLC and summarize relevant studies of HSP90 inhibitors in NSCLC.

Identification of Active Components for Sports Supplements: Machine Learning-Driven Classification and Cell-Based Validation

The identification of active components is critical for the development of sports supplements. However, high-throughput screening of active components remains a challenge. This study sought to construct prediction models to screen active components from herbal medicines via machine learning and validate the screening by using cell-based assays. The six constructed models had an accuracy of >0.88. Twelve randomly selected active components from the screening were tested for their active potency on C2C12 cells, and 11 components induced a significant increase in myotube diameters and protein synthesis. The effect and mechanism of luteolin among the 11 active components as potential sports supplements were then investigated by using immunofluorescence staining and high-content imaging analysis. It showed that luteolin increased the skeletal muscle performance via the activation of PGC-1α and MAPK signaling pathways. Thus, high-throughput prediction models can be effectively used to screen active components as sports supplements.

Protein homeostasis imprinting across evolution

Protein homeostasis (a.k.a. proteostasis) is associated with the primary functions of life, and therefore with evolution. However, it is unclear how cellular proteostasis machines have evolved to adjust protein biogenesis needs to environmental constraints. Herein, we describe a novel computational approach, based on semantic network analysis, to evaluate proteostasis plasticity during evolution. We show that the molecular components of the proteostasis network (PN) are reliable metrics to deconvolute the life forms into Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya and to assess the evolution rates among species. Semantic graphs were used as new criteria to evaluate PN complexity in 93 Eukarya, 250 Bacteria and 62 Archaea, thus representing a novel strategy for taxonomic classification, which provided information about species divergence. Kingdom-specific PN components were identified, suggesting that PN complexity may correlate with evolution. We found that the gains that occurred throughout PN evolution revealed a dichotomy within both the PN conserved modules and within kingdom-specific modules. Additionally, many of these components contribute to the evolutionary imprinting of other conserved mechanisms. Finally, the current study suggests a new way to exploit the genomic annotation of biomedical ontologies, deriving new knowledge from the semantic comparison of different biological systems.

Prospects and challenges of noncoding-RNA-mediated inhibition of heat shock protein 90 for cancer therapy

Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) is a potential drug target for cancer therapy as it is often dysregulated in several cancers, including lung, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. In cancer, HSP90 fails to maintain the structural and functional integrity of its several client proteins which are involved in the hallmarks of cancer such as cell proliferation, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Several small molecule inhibitors of HSP90 have been shown to exhibit anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo animal models. However, a few of them are currently under clinical studies. The status and potential limitations of these inhibitors are discussed here. Studies demonstrate that several noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate HSP90 and its client proteins to modulate cellular processes to exhibit oncogenic or tumor suppressing properties. Over the last decade, miRNAs and lncRNAs have drawn significant interest from the scientific community as therapeutic agents or targets for clinical applications. Here, we discuss the detailed mechanistic regulation of HSP90 and its client proteins by ncRNAs. Moreover, we highlight the significance of these ncRNAs as potential therapeutic agents/targets, and the challenges associated with ncRNA-based therapies. This article aims to provide a holistic view on HSP90-regulating ncRNAs for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat cancer.

Risk prediction model construction for asthma after allergic rhinitis by blood immune T effector cells

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma (AS) are prevalent and frequently co-occurring respiratory diseases, with mutual influence on each other. They share similar etiology, pathogenesis, and pathological changes. Due to the anatomical continuity between the upper and lower respiratory tracts, allergic inflammation in the nasal cavity can readily propagate downwards, leading to bronchial inflammation and asthma. AR serves as a significant risk factor for AS by potentially inducing airway hyperresponsiveness in patients. Currently, there is a lack of reliable predictors for the progression from AR to AS.

METHODS

In this exhaustive investigation, we reexamined peripheral blood single cell RNA sequencing datasets from patients with AS following AR and healthy individuals. In addition, we used the bulk RNA sequencing dataset as a validation lineup, which included AS, AR, and healthy controls. Using marker genes of related cell subtype, signatures predicting the progression of AR to AS were generated.

RESULTS

We identified a subtype of immune-activating effector T cells that can distinguish patients with AS after AR. By combining specific marker genes of effector T cell subtype, we established prediction models of 16 markers. The model holds great promise for assessing AS risk in individuals with AR, providing innovative avenues for clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.

CONCLUSION

Subcluster T effector cells may play a key role in post-AR AS. Notably, ACTR3 and HSPA8 genes were significantly upregulated in the blood of AS patients compared to healthy patients.

Regulation of Epithelial and Endothelial Barriers by Molecular Chaperones

The integrity and permeability of epithelial and endothelial barriers depend on the formation of tight junctions, adherens junctions, and a junction-associated cytoskeleton. The establishment of this junction-cytoskeletal module relies on the correct folding and oligomerization of its protein components. Molecular chaperones are known regulators of protein folding and complex formation in different cellular compartments. Mammalian cells possess an elaborate chaperone network consisting of several hundred chaperones and co-chaperones. Only a small part of this network has been linked, however, to the regulation of intercellular adhesions, and the systematic analysis of chaperone functions at epithelial and endothelial barriers is lacking. This review describes the functions and mechanisms of the chaperone-assisted regulation of intercellular junctions. The major focus of this review is on heat shock protein chaperones, their co-chaperones, and chaperonins since these molecules are the focus of the majority of the articles published on the chaperone-mediated control of tissue barriers. This review discusses the roles of chaperones in the regulation of the steady-state integrity of epithelial and vascular barriers as well as the disruption of these barriers by pathogenic factors and extracellular stressors. Since cytoskeletal coupling is essential for junctional integrity and remodeling, chaperone-assisted assembly of the actomyosin cytoskeleton is also discussed.

HSP70 Is a Critical Regulator of HSP90 Inhibitor's Effectiveness in Preventing HCl-Induced Chronic Lung Injury and Pulmonary Fibrosis

Exposure to hydrochloric acid (HCl) can provoke acute and chronic lung injury. Because of its extensive production for industrial use, frequent accidental exposures occur, making HCl one of the top five chemicals causing inhalation injuries. There are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments for HCl exposure. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors modulate transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling and the development of chemical-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, little is known on the role of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) during injury and treatment with HSP90 inhibitors. We hypothesized that administration of geranylgeranyl-acetone (GGA), an HSP70 inducer, or gefitinib (GFT), an HSP70 suppressant, alone or in combination with the HSP90 inhibitor, TAS-116, would improve or worsen, respectively, HCl-induced chronic lung injury in vivo and endothelial barrier dysfunction in vitro. GGA, alone, improved HCl-induced human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVEC) barrier dysfunction and, in combination with TAS-116, improved the protective effect of TAS-116. In mice, GGA reduced HCl toxicity and while TAS-116 alone blocked HCl-induced chronic lung injury, co-administration with GGA, resulted in further improvement. Conversely, GFT potentiated HCl-induced barrier dysfunction and impaired the antidotal effects of TAS-116. We conclude that combined treatments with HSP90 inhibitors and HSP70 inducers may represent a novel therapeutic approach to manage HCl-induced chronic lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis.

Heat shock response during the resolution of inflammation and its progressive suppression in chronic-degenerative inflammatory diseases

The heat shock response (HSR) is a crucial biochemical pathway that orchestrates the resolution of inflammation, primarily under proteotoxic stress conditions. This process hinges on the upregulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and other chaperones, notably the 70 kDa family of heat shock proteins, under the command of the heat shock transcription factor-1. However, in the context of chronic degenerative disorders characterized by persistent low-grade inflammation (such as insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular diseases) a gradual suppression of the HSR does occur. This work delves into the mechanisms behind this phenomenon. It explores how the Western diet and sedentary lifestyle, culminating in the endoplasmic reticulum stress within adipose tissue cells, trigger a cascade of events. This cascade includes the unfolded protein response and activation of the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein-3 inflammasome, leading to the emergence of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype and the propagation of inflammation throughout the body. Notably, the activation of the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein-3 inflammasome not only fuels inflammation but also sabotages the HSR by degrading human antigen R, a crucial mRNA-binding protein responsible for maintaining heat shock transcription factor-1 mRNA expression and stability on heat shock gene promoters. This paper underscores the imperative need to comprehend how chronic inflammation stifles the HSR and the clinical significance of evaluating the HSR using cost-effective and accessible tools. Such understanding is pivotal in the development of innovative strategies aimed at the prevention and treatment of these chronic inflammatory ailments, which continue to take a heavy toll on global health and well-being.

Genome-wide identification of heat shock protein gene family and their responses to pathogen challenge in Trachinotus ovatus

Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) are a widely distributed family of proteins produced in response to heat and other stresses. To develop a deeper understanding of the mechanisms governing expression of HSPs in the bony fish Trachinotus ovatus, we carried out a whole genome analysis and identified 43 HSP genes. Based on their phylogenetic relationships with Danio rerio, Seriola dumerili, and Seriola lalandi, they were divided into four subfamilies: HSP20, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90. We performed an analysis of the predicted physicochemical properties and subcellular localization of proteins encoded by these genes. The chromosomal localization results showed that the HSP genes are distributed across 20 chromosomes of T. ovatus.These genes were found to be expressed in different tissues, and they showed differential expression in the immune response against Streptococcus agalactiae. However, there was no significant differential expression in the different skin tissue locations of T. ovatus after infection by Cryptocaryon irritans Brown. This study provides basic information for further research on the evolution and structure and function of HSPs in teleosts.

MulCNN-HSP: A multi-scale convolutional neural networks-based deep learning method for classification of heat shock proteins

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are crucial cellular stress proteins that react to environmental cues, ensuring the preservation of cellular functions. They also play pivotal roles in orchestrating the immune response and participating in processes associated with cancer. Consequently, the classification of HSPs holds immense significance in enhancing our understanding of their biological functions and in various diseases. However, the use of computational methods for identifying and classifying HSPs still faces challenges related to accuracy and interpretability. In this study, we introduced MulCNN-HSP, a novel deep learning model based on multi-scale convolutional neural networks, for identifying and classifying of HSPs. Comparative results showed that MulCNN-HSP outperforms or matches existing models in the identification and classification of HSPs. Furthermore, MulCNN-HSP can extract and analyze essential features for the prediction task, enhancing its interpretability. To facilitate its accessibility, we have made MulCNN-HSP available at http://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/HSP/. We hope that MulCNN-HSP will contribute to advancing the study of HSPs and their roles in various biological processes and diseases.

The dance of proteostasis and metabolism: Unveiling the caloristatic controlling switch

The heat shock response (HSR) is an ancient and evolutionarily conserved mechanism designed to restore cellular homeostasis following proteotoxic challenges. However, it has become increasingly evident that disruptions in energy metabolism also trigger the HSR. This interplay between proteostasis and energy regulation is rooted in the fundamental need for ATP to fuel protein synthesis and repair, making the HSR an essential component of cellular energy management. Recent findings suggest that the origins of proteostasis-defending systems can be traced back over 3.6 billion years, aligning with the emergence of sugar kinases that optimized glycolysis around 3.594 billion years ago. This evolutionary connection is underscored by the spatial similarities between the nucleotide-binding domain of HSP70, the key player in protein chaperone machinery, and hexokinases. The HSR serves as a hub that integrates energy metabolism and resolution of inflammation, further highlighting its role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Notably, 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase emerges as a central regulator, promoting the HSR during predominantly proteotoxic stress while suppressing it in response to predominantly metabolic stress. The complex relationship between 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and the HSR is finely tuned, with paradoxical effects observed under different stress conditions. This delicate equilibrium, known as caloristasis, ensures that cellular homeostasis is maintained despite shifting environmental and intracellular conditions. Understanding the caloristatic controlling switch at the heart of this interplay is crucial. It offers insights into a wide range of conditions, including glycemic control, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, reproductive abnormalities, and the optimization of exercise routines. These findings highlight the profound interconnectedness of proteostasis and energy metabolism in cellular function and adaptation.

Expansion of the HSP70 gene family in Tegillarca granosa and expression profiles in response to zinc toxicity

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient in organisms and an abundant element in the Earth's crust. Trace amounts of Zn released from natural sources can enter aquatic ecosystems through weathering and erosion. Zn accumulates in organisms, and when its intracellular concentration exceeds a certain level, it can induce oxidative stress and trigger oxidative stress-mediated heat shock protein (HSP) modulation. HSP70 is the most evolutionarily conserved among the HSP families. Despite extensive research on HSP70 genes in bivalves, the HSP70 gene family of Tegillarca granosa is still poorly characterized. We identified 65 HSP70 genes belonging to 6 families in the T. granosa genome, with 50 HSPa12 and 11 HSPa B2 genes highly expanded. On chromosome 11, 39 HSP70 (60%) genes were identified, and the HSPa12A genes were highly duplicated. A total of 527 and 538 differentially expressed genes were identified in the gills and mantle based on Zn exposure, respectively. The Gene Ontology of cellular anatomical entities was significantly enriched with upregulated differentially expressed genes in the gills and mantle. Eight of the 11 HSPa B2 genes were upregulated in both tissues. Most of the genes identified in both tissues were involved in "protein homeostasis" and "inhibition of apoptosis," which are associated with the HSP70 family's resistance to extrinsic and intrinsic stress. Hence, this study identified that the HSP70 gene family plays a vital role in the adaptation of aquatic organisms to heavy metal (e.g., Zn) stress in contaminated environments by compiling the different physiological responses to preserve homeostasis.

The Interplay between Heat Shock Proteins and Cancer Pathogenesis: A Novel Strategy for Cancer Therapeutics

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are developmentally conserved families of protein found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. HSPs are engaged in a diverse range of physiological processes, including molecular chaperone activity to assist the initial protein folding or promote the unfolding and refolding of misfolded intermediates to acquire the normal or native conformation and its translocation and prevent protein aggregation as well as in immunity, apoptosis, and autophagy. These molecular chaperonins are classified into various families according to their molecular size or weight, encompassing small HSPs (e.g., HSP10 and HSP27), HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and the category of large HSPs that include HSP100 and ClpB proteins. The overexpression of HSPs is induced to counteract cell stress at elevated levels in a variety of solid tumors, including anticancer chemotherapy, and is closely related to a worse prognosis and therapeutic resistance to cancer cells. HSPs are also involved in anti-apoptotic properties and are associated with processes of cancer progression and development, such as metastasis, invasion, and cell proliferation. This review outlines the previously mentioned HSPs and their significant involvement in diverse mechanisms of tumor advancement and metastasis, as well as their contribution to identifying potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

Unveiling the potential of HSPA4: a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of HSPA4 in diagnosis, prognosis, and immunotherapy

With the global rise in cancer incidence and mortality rates, research on the topic has become increasingly urgent. Among the significant players in this field are heat shock proteins (HSPs), particularly HSPA4 from the HSP70 subfamily, which has recently garnered considerable interest for its role in cancer progression. However, despite numerous studies on HSPA4 in specific cancer types, a comprehensive analysis across all cancer types is lacking. This study employs various bioinformatics techniques to delve into the role of HSPA4 in pan-cancer. Our objective is to assess its potential in clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and as a future molecular target for therapy. The research findings reveal significant differences in HSPA4 expression across different cancer types, suggesting its diagnostic value and close association with cancer staging and patient survival rates. Furthermore, genetic variations and methylation status of HSPA4 play critical roles in tumorigenesis. Lastly, the interaction of HSPA4 with immune cells is linked to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immunotherapy. In summary, HSPA4 emerges as a promising cancer biomarker and a vital member of the HSPs family, holding potential applications in diagnosis, prognosis, and immunotherapy.

Small molecules as modulators of the proteostasis machinery: Implication in cardiovascular diseases

With the escalating prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, the substantial socioeconomic burden on healthcare systems is intensifying. Accumulating empirical evidence underscores the pivotal role of the proteostasis network in regulating cardiac homeostasis and function. Disruptions in proteostasis may contribute to the loss of protein function or the acquisition of toxic functions, which are intricately linked to the development of cardiovascular ailments such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure, atherosclerosis, and cardiac aging. It is widely acknowledged that the proteostasis network encompasses molecular chaperones, autophagy, and the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Consequently, the proteostasis network emerges as an appealing target for therapeutic interventions in cardiovascular diseases. Numerous small molecules, acting as modulators of the proteostasis machinery, have exhibited therapeutic efficacy in managing cardiovascular diseases. This review centers on elucidating the role of the proteostasis network in various cardiovascular diseases and explores the potential of small molecules as therapeutic agents.

DNAJC8: a prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer, accounting for ~90% of the total cases. DnaJ heat shock protein family member C8 (DNAJC8), belonging to the heat shock protein 40 (HSP40) family, is known to regulate cancer biology function. However, the role of DNAJC8 on HCC development remains unknown.

Methods

The Cancer Genome Atlas, GTEx, cBioPortal, and Human Protein Atlas were used to analyze the expression and clinical significance of DNAJC8 in HCC. Two HCC cell lines, MHCC-97H and Huh-7, were utilized to determine the biological function of DNAJC8.

Results

DNAJC8 expression was upregulated in HCC tissues and correlated with poor clinical prognosis. It was closely related to spliceosome, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and cell cycle and might be involved in the formation of tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. Knockdown of DNAJC8 severely inhibited HCC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrate that DNAJC8 functions as an oncogene in HCC and hence may be used as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker for HCC.

Heat Shock Proteins and Breast Cancer

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a group of stress-induced proteins involved in protein folding and maturation. Based on their molecular weight, Hsps can be divided into six families: small Hsps, Hsp40, Hsp60, Hsp70, Hsp90, and large Hsps. In the process of breast cancer tumorigenesis, Hsps play a central role in regulating cell reactions and functions including proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis. Moreover, some of the critical Hsps also regulate the fine balance between the protective and destructive immunological responses within the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we systematically summarize the roles of major Hsps in breast cancer biology and point out the potential uses of these proteins in breast cancer diagnosis and therapy. Understanding the roles of different families of Hsps in breast cancer pathogenesis will help in the development of more effective prevention and treatment measures for breast cancer.

Construction of a 12-gene prognostic model for colorectal cancer based on heat shock protein-related genes

Some heat shock proteins (HSPs) have been shown to influence tumor prognosis, but their prognostic significance in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. This study explored the prognostic significance of HSP-related genes in CRC. Transcriptional data and clinical information of CRC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and a literature search was conducted to identify HSP-related genes. Using Least Absolute Selection and Shrinkage Operator (LASSO) regression and univariate/multivariate Cox regression analyses, 12 HSP-related genes demonstrating significant associations with CRC survival were successfully identified and employed to formulate a predictive risk score model. The efficacy and precision of this model were validated utilizing TCGA and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, demonstrating its reliability in CRC prognosis prediction. gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed significant disparities between high- and low-risk groups in chromatin remodeling biological functions and neutrophil extracellular trap formation pathways. Single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) further revealed differences in immune cell types and immune functional status between the two risk groups. Differential analysis showed higher expression of immune checkpoints within the low-risk group, while the high-risk group exhibited notably higher Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) scores. Additionally, we predicted the sensitivity of different prognosis risk patients to various drugs, providing potential drug choices for tailored treatment. Combined, our study successfully crafted a novel CRC prognostic model that can effectively predict patient survival, immune landscape, and treatment response, providing important support and guidance for CRC patient prognosis.

The demographic history and adaptation of Canarian goat breeds to environmental conditions through the use of genome-wide SNP data

BACKGROUND

The presence of goats in the Canary Islands dates back to the late 1st millennium BC, which coincides with the colonization by the Amazigh settlers. However, the exact geographic origin of Canarian goats is uncertain since the Amazigh peoples were distributed over a wide spatial range. Nowadays, three Canarian breeds (Palmera, Majorera and Tinerfeña) are officially recognized, along with two distinct South and North Tinerfeña ecotypes, with the South Tinerfeña and Majorera goats thriving in arid and dry semi-desertic environments and the Palmera and North Tinerfeña goats are adapted to humid and temperate areas that are influenced by trade winds. Genotypes for 224 Canarian goats were generated using the Illumina Goat single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)50 BeadChip. By merging these data with the genotypes from 1007 individuals of African and Southern European ancestry, our aim was to ascertain the geographic origin of the Canarian goats and identify genes associated with adaptation to diverse environmental conditions.

RESULTS

The diversity indices of the Canarian breeds align with most of those of the analyzed local breeds from Africa and Europe, except for the Palmera goats that showed lower levels of genetic variation. The Canarian breeds demonstrate a significant genetic differentiation compared to other populations, which indicates a history of prolonged geographic isolation. Moreover, the phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that the ancestry of the Canarian goats is fundamentally North African rather than West African. The ADMIXTURE and the TreeMix analyses showed no evidence of gene flow between Canarian goats and other continental breeds. The analysis of runs of homozygosity (ROH) identified 13 ROH islands while the window-based FST method detected 25 genomic regions under selection. Major signals of selection were found on Capra hircus (CHI) chromosomes 6, 7, and 10 using various comparisons and methods.

CONCLUSIONS

This genome-wide analysis sheds new light on the evolutionary history of the four breeds that inhabit the Canary Islands. Our findings suggest a North African origin of the Canarian goats. In addition, within the genomic regions highlighted by the ROH and FST approaches, several genes related to body size and heat tolerance were identified.

HSPB8 Facilitates the Oncogenesis and Advancement of Bladder Cancer via Activation of HSP27

Bladder cancer (BCa) stands as a significant malignancy within the genitourinary system. Notably, heat shock proteins (HSPs) exhibit elevated expression in cells subjected to environmental stresses and have been linked to the progression of many human malignancies. Among these, the functional implications and specific mechanism of HSPB8 in BCa have yet to be fully explored. In this study, we measured HSPB8 expression in both BCa tissues and various cell lines, further delving into its influence on cellular behaviors. Our observations pinpoint an upregulation of HSPB8 in BCa, a trend strongly associated with more advanced clinical manifestations. Suppressing HSPB8 exhibited marked reductions in cell proliferation and migration capabilities, while simultaneously amplifying apoptosis and inducing cell cycle arrest. Reinforcing these findings, our in vivo analyses using mouse models showed similar trends. Notably, upon HSPB8 knockdown, levels of specific proteins including eNOS (S1177), Hsp27 (S78/S82), PRAS40(T246), RSK1/2(S221/S227), and STAT3 (S727) decreased, with Hsp27 (S78/S82) and PRAS40(T246) experiencing the most profound drops. Furthermore, the application of an HSP27 inhibitor effectively reversed the phenotypes caused by increased HSPB8 expression. Collectively, our results suggest that elevated HSPB8 expression could act as a potential prognostic marker for BCa, and targeting HSPB8 might open new therapeutic avenues for treating this malignancy.

Whole genome identification of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) cathepsin genes: Provides insights into its regulation on biotic and abiotic stresses response

Cathepsins are major lysosomal enzymes involved in essential physiological processes, including protein degradation, tissue differentiation, and innate or adaptive responses. Several kinds of cathepsins have been reported in teleost fishes, but no characterization have been performed for the inflammatory response of cathepsin family in olive flounder until now. In our current study, a total of 17 cathepsins in olive flounder were systematically identified and characterized. Phylogenetic analysis clearly indicated that the cathepsin genes was highly conserved. Analysis of structure and motifs exhibited high sequence similarity of cathepsin genes in olive flounder. Expression profiles of cathepsin genes in different tissues and developmental stages showed that cathepsins were temporally and spatially specific. RNA-seq analysis of bacteria and temperature stresses revealed that members of cathepsin were involved in inflammatory responses. Collectively, our findings would provide a further reference for understanding the molecular mechanisms of cathepsins in olive flounder.

Harnessing Hyperthermia: Molecular, Cellular, and Immunological Insights for Enhanced Anticancer Therapies

Hyperthermia, the raising of tumor temperature (≥39°C), holds great promise as an adjuvant treatment for cancer therapy. This review focuses on 2 key aspects of hyperthermia: its molecular and cellular effects and its impact on the immune system. Hyperthermia has profound effects on critical biological processes. Increased temperatures inhibit DNA repair enzymes, making cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation. Elevated temperatures also induce cell cycle arrest and trigger apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, hyperthermia modifies the expression of heat shock proteins, which play vital roles in cancer therapy, including enhancing immune responses. Hyperthermic treatments also have a significant impact on the body's immune response against tumors, potentially improving the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Mild systemic hyperthermia (39°C-41°C) mimics fever, activating immune cells and raising metabolic rates. Intense heat above 50°C can release tumor antigens, enhancing immune reactions. Using photothermal nanoparticles for targeted heating and drug delivery can also modulate the immune response. Hyperthermia emerges as a cost-effective and well-tolerated adjuvant therapy when integrated with immunotherapy. This comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for the selection of patient-specific treatments and the guidance of future experimental studies.

Potential association of HSPD1 with dysregulations in ribosome biogenesis and immune cell infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma: An integrated bioinformatic approach

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a major histological subtype of lung cancer with a high mortality rate worldwide. Heat shock protein family D member 1 (HSPD1, also known as HSP60) is reported to be increased in tumor tissues of lung cancer patients compared with healthy control tissues.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the roles of HSPD1 in prognosis, carcinogenesis, and immune infiltration in LUAD using an integrative bioinformatic analysis.

METHODS

HSPD1 expression in LUAD was investigated in several transcriptome-based and protein databases. Survival analysis was performed using the KM plotter and OSluca databases, while prognostic significance was independently confirmed through univariate and multivariate analyses. Integrative gene interaction network and enrichment analyses of HSPD1-correlated genes were performed to investigate the roles of HSPD1 in LUAD carcinogenesis. TIMER and TISIDB were used to analyze correlation between HSPD1 expression and immune cell infiltration.

RESULTS

The mRNA and protein expressions of HSPD1 were higher in LUAD compared with normal tissues. High HSPD1 expression was associated with male gender and LUAD with advanced stages. High HSPD1 expression was an independent prognostic factor associated with poor survival in LUAD patients. HSPD1-correlated genes with prognostic impact were mainly involved in aberrant ribosome biogenesis, while LUAD patients with high HSPD1 expression had low tumor infiltrations of activated and immature B cells and CD4+ T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

HSPD1 may play a role in the regulation of ribosome biogenesis and B cell-mediated immunity in LUAD. It could serve as a predictive biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy response in LUAD.

"All for One and One for All": The Secreted Heat Shock Protein gp96-Ig Based Vaccines

It has been 50 years since Peter Charles Doherty and Rolf M Zinkernagel proposed the principle of "simultaneous dual recognition", according to which adaptive immune cells recognized "self" and "non-self" simultaneously to establish immunological efficacy. These two scientists shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this discovery. Their basic immunological principle became the foundation for the development of numerous vaccine approaches against infectious diseases and tumors, including promising strategies grounded on the use of recombinant gp96-Ig developed by our lab over the last two decades. In this review, we will highlight three major principles of the gp96-Ig vaccine strategy: (1) presentation of pathogenic antigens to T cells (specificity); (2) activation of innate immune responses (adjuvanticity); (3) priming of T cells to home to the epithelial compartments (mucosal immunity). In summary, we provide a paradigm for a vaccine approach that can be rapidly engineered and customized for any future pathogens that require induction of effective tissue-resident memory responses in epithelial tissues.

Elevated Expression of HSP72 in the Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus of Rats Subjected to Chronic Mild Stress and Treated with Imipramine

The HSP70 and HSP90 family members belong to molecular chaperones that exhibit protective functions during the cellular response to stressful agents. We investigated whether the exposure of rats to chronic mild stress (CMS), a validated model of depression, affects the expression of HSP70 and HSP90 in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HIP) and thalamus (Thal). Male Wistar rats were exposed to CMS for 3 or 8 weeks. The antidepressant imipramine (IMI, 10 mg/kg, i.p., daily) was introduced in the last five weeks of the long-term CMS procedure. Depressive-like behavior was verified by the sucrose consumption test. The expression of mRNA and protein was quantified by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. In the 8-week CMS model, stress alone elevated HSP72 and HSP90B mRNA expression in the HIP. HSP72 mRNA was increased in the PFC and HIP of rats not responding to IMI treatment vs. IMI responders. The CMS exposure increased HSP72 protein expression in the cytosolic fraction of the PFC and HIP, and this effect was diminished by IMI treatment. Our results suggest that elevated levels of HSP72 may serve as an important indicator of neuronal stress reactions accompanying depression pathology and could be a potential target for antidepressant strategy.

Localized molecular chaperone synthesis maintains neuronal dendrite proteostasis

Proteostasis is maintained through regulated protein synthesis and degradation and chaperone-assisted protein folding. However, this is challenging in neuronal projections because of their polarized morphology and constant synaptic proteome remodeling. Using high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, we discovered that neurons localize a subset of chaperone mRNAs to their dendrites and use microtubule-based transport to increase this asymmetric localization following proteotoxic stress. The most abundant dendritic chaperone mRNA encodes a constitutive heat shock protein 70 family member (HSPA8). Proteotoxic stress also enhanced HSPA8 mRNA translation efficiency in dendrites. Stress-mediated HSPA8 mRNA localization to the dendrites was impaired by depleting fused in sarcoma-an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-related protein-in cultured mouse motor neurons and expressing a pathogenic variant of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 in neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. These results reveal a crucial and unexpected neuronal stress response in which RNA-binding proteins increase the dendritic localization of HSPA8 mRNA to maintain proteostasis and prevent neurodegeneration.

Linking Heat Shock Protein 70 and Parkin in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of elderly people worldwide and is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The precise mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of PD are still not fully understood, but it is well accepted that the misfolding, aggregation, and abnormal degradation of proteins are the key causative factors of PD. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is a molecular chaperone that participates in the degradation of misfolded and aggregated proteins in living cells and organisms. Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, participates in the degradation of proteins via the proteasome pathway. Recent studies have indicated that both Hsp70 and Parkin play pivotal roles in PD pathogenesis. In this review, we focus on discussing how dysregulation of Hsp70 and Parkin leads to PD pathogenesis, the interaction between Hsp70 and Parkin in the context of PD and their therapeutic applications in PD.

Dissecting the functional significance of HSP90AB1 and other heat shock proteins in countering glioblastomas and ependymomas using omics analysis and drug prediction using virtual screening

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are the evolutionary family of proteins that are highly conserved and present widely in various organisms and play an array of important roles and cellular functions. Currently, very few or no studies are based on the systematic analysis of the HSPs in Glioblastoma (GBMs) and ependymomas. We performed an integrated omics analysis to predict the mutual regulatory differential HSP signatures that were associated with both glioblastoma and ependymomas. Further, we explored the various common dysregulated biological processes operating in both the tumors, and were analyzed using functional enrichment, gene ontology along with the pathway analysis of the predicted HSPs. We established an interactome network of protein-protein interaction (PPIN) to identify the hub HSPs that were commonly associated with GBMs and ependymoma. To understand the mutual molecular mechanism of the HSPs in both malignancies, transcription factors, and miRNAs overlapping with both diseases were explored. Moreover, a transcription factor-miRNAs-HSPs coregulatory network was constructed along with the prediction of potential candidate drugs that were based on perturbation-induced gene expression analysis. Based on the RNA-sequencing data, HSP90AB1 was identified as the most promising target among other predicted HSPs. Finally, the ranking of the drugs was arranged based on various drug scores. In conclusion, this study gave a spotlight on the mutual targetable HSPs, biological pathways, and regulatory signatures associated with GBMs and ependymoma with an improved understanding of crosstalk involved. Additionally, the role of therapeutics was also explored against HSP90AB1. These findings could potentially be able to explain the interplay of HSP90AB1 and other HSPs within these two malignancies.

Tat-CCT2 Protects the Neurons from Ischemic Damage by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Activating Autophagic Removal of Damaged Protein in the Gerbil Hippocampus

CCT2 is a eukaryotic chaperonin TCP-1 ring complex subunit that mediates protein folding, autophagosome incorporation, and protein aggregation. In this study, we investigated the effects of CCT on oxidative and ischemic damage using in vitro and in vivo experimental models. The Tat-CCT2 fusion protein was efficiently delivered into HT22 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the delivered protein was gradually degraded in HT22 cells. Incubation with Tat-CCT2 significantly ameliorated the 200 µM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced reduction in cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, and 8 µM Tat-CCT2 treatment significantly alleviated H2O2-induced DNA fragmentation and reactive oxygen species formation in HT22 cells. In gerbils, CCT2 protein was efficiently delivered into pyramidal cells in CA1 region by intraperitoneally injecting 0.5 mg/kg Tat-CCT2, as opposed to control CCT2. In addition, treatment with 0.2 or 0.5 mg/kg Tat-CCT2 mitigated ischemia-induced hyperlocomotive activity 1 d after ischemia and confirmed the neuroprotective effects by NeuN immunohistochemistry in the hippocampal CA1 region 4 d after ischemia. Tat-CCT2 treatment significantly reduced the ischemia-induced activation of astrocytes and microglia in the hippocampal CA1 region 4 d after ischemia. Furthermore, treatment with 0.2 or 0.5 mg/kg Tat-CCT2 facilitated ischemia-induced autophagic activity and ameliorated ischemia-induced autophagic initiation in the hippocampus 1 d after ischemia based on western blotting for LC3B and Beclin-1, respectively. Levels of p62, an autophagic substrate, significantly increased in the hippocampus following treatment with Tat-CCT2. These results suggested that Tat-CCT2 exerts neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress and ischemic damage by promoting the autophagic removal of damaged proteins or organelles.

Effect of heat stress on heat shock protein expression and hypertrophy-related signaling in the skeletal muscle of trained individuals

Muscle mass is balanced between hypertrophy and atrophy by cellular processes, including activation of the protein kinase B-mechanistic target of rapamycin (Akt-mTOR) signaling cascade. Stressors apart from exercise and nutrition, such as heat stress, can stimulate the heat shock protein A (HSPA) and C (HSPC) families alongside hypertrophic signaling factors and muscle growth. The effects of heat stress on HSP expression and Akt-mTOR activation in human skeletal muscle and their magnitude of activation compared with known hypertrophic stimuli are unclear. Here, we show a single session of whole body heat stress following resistance exercise increases the expression of HSPA and activation of the Akt-mTOR cascade in skeletal muscle compared with resistance exercise in a healthy, resistance-trained population. Heat stress alone may also exert similar effects, though the responses are notably variable and require further investigation. In addition, acute heat stress in C2C12 muscle cells enhanced myotube growth and myogenic fusion, albeit to a lesser degree than growth factor-mediated hypertrophy. Though the mechanisms by which heat stress stimulates hypertrophy-related signaling and the potential mechanistic role of HSPs remain unclear, these findings provide additional evidence implicating heat stress as a novel growth stimulus when combined with resistance exercise in human skeletal muscle and alone in isolated murine muscle cells. We believe these findings will help drive further applied and mechanistic investigation into how heat stress influences muscular hypertrophy and atrophy.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that acute resistance exercise followed by whole body heat stress increases the expression of HSPA and increases activation of the Akt-mTOR cascade in a physically active and resistance-trained population.

The development of cancers research based on mitochondrial heat shock protein 90

Mitochondrial heat shock protein 90 (mtHsp90), including Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) and Hsp90 translocated from cytoplasm, modulating cellular metabolism and signaling pathways by altering the conformation, activity, and stability of numerous client proteins, and is highly expressed in tumors. mtHsp90 inhibition results in the destabilization and eventual degradation of its client proteins, leading to interference with various tumor-related pathways and efficient control of cancer cell development. Among these compounds, gamitrinib, a specific mtHsp90 inhibitor, has demonstrated its safety and efficacy in several preclinical investigations and is currently undergoing evaluation in clinical trials. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the present knowledge pertaining to mtHsp90, encompassing its structure and function. Moreover, our main emphasis is on the development of mtHsp90 inhibitors for various cancer therapies, to present a thorough overview of the recent pre-clinical and clinical advancements in this field.

The salivary chaperone protein NlDNAJB9 of Nilaparvata lugens activates plant immune responses

The brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) is a main pest on rice. It secretes saliva to regulate plant defense responses, when penetrating rice plant and sucking phloem sap through its stylet. However, the molecular mechanisms of BPH salivary proteins regulating plant defense responses remain poorly understood. A N. lugens DNAJ protein (NlDNAJB9) gene was highly expressed in salivary glands, and the knock down of NlDNAJB9 significantly enhanced honeydew excretion and fecundity of the BPH. NlDNAJB9 could induce plant cell death, and the overexpression of NlDNAJB9 gene in Nicotiana benthamiana induced calcium signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, jasmonic acid (JA) hormone signaling and callose deposition. The results from different NlDNAJB9 deletion mutants indicated that the nuclear localization of NlDNAJB9 was not necessary to induce cell death. The DNAJ domain was the key region to induce cell death, and the overexpression of DNAJ domain in N. benthamiana significantly inhibited insect feeding and pathogenic infection. NlDNAJB9 might interact indirectly with NlHSC70-3 to regulate plant defense responses. NlDNAJB9 and its orthologs were highly conserved in three planthopper species, and could induce ROS burst and cell death in plants. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of insect-plant interactions.

Transcriptional Profiling of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Calu-3 Cells Reveals Immune-Related Signaling Pathways

The COVID-19 disease, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in late 2019 and rapidly spread worldwide, becoming a pandemic that infected millions of people and caused significant deaths. COVID-19 continues to be a major threat, and there is a need to deepen our understanding of the virus and its mechanisms of infection. To study the cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we performed an RNA sequencing of infected vs. uninfected Calu-3 cells. Total RNA was extracted from infected (0.5 MOI) and control Calu-3 cells and converted to cDNA. Sequencing was performed, and the obtained reads were quality-analyzed and pre-processed. Differential expression was assessed with the EdgeR package, and functional enrichment was performed in EnrichR for Gene Ontology, KEGG pathways, and WikiPathways. A total of 1040 differentially expressed genes were found in infected vs. uninfected Calu-3 cells, of which 695 were up-regulated and 345 were down-regulated. Functional enrichment analyses revealed the predominant up-regulation of genes related to innate immune response, response to virus, inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. These transcriptional changes following SARS-CoV-2 infection may reflect a cellular response to the infection and help to elucidate COVID-19 pathogenesis, in addition to revealing potential biomarkers and drug targets.

Modulating Stress Proteins in Response to Therapeutic Interventions for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative illness characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in motor symptoms and without debilitating motors. A hallmark of this condition is the accumulation of misfolded proteins, a phenomenon that drives disease progression. In this regard, heat shock proteins (HSPs) play a central role in the cellular response to stress, shielding cells from damage induced by protein aggregates and oxidative stress. As a result, researchers have become increasingly interested in modulating these proteins through pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions. This review aims to provide an overview of the preclinical experiments performed over the last decade in this research field. Specifically, it focuses on preclinical studies that center on the modulation of stress proteins for the treatment potential of PD. The findings display promise in targeting HSPs to ameliorate PD outcomes. Despite the complexity of HSPs and their co-chaperones, proteins such as HSP70, HSP27, HSP90, and glucose-regulated protein-78 (GRP78) may be efficacious in slowing or preventing disease progression. Nevertheless, clinical validation is essential to confirm the safety and effectiveness of these preclinical approaches.

A Critical Analysis of the FDA's Omics-Driven Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers to Establish Biosimilarity

Demonstrating biosimilarity entails comprehensive analytical assessment, clinical pharmacology profiling, and efficacy testing in patients for at least one medical indication, as required by the U.S. Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA). The efficacy testing can be waived if the drug has known pharmacodynamic (PD) markers, leaving most therapeutic proteins out of this concession. To overcome this, the FDA suggests that biosimilar developers discover PD biomarkers using omics technologies such as proteomics, glycomics, transcriptomics, genomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics. This approach is redundant since the mode-action-action biomarkers of approved therapeutic proteins are already available, as compiled in this paper for the first time. Other potential biomarkers are receptor binding and pharmacokinetic profiling, which can be made more relevant to ensure biosimilarity without requiring biosimilar developers to conduct extensive research, for which they are rarely qualified.

Construction of a prognostic model for lung adenocarcinoma based on heat shock protein-related genes and immune analysis

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) represents a prevalent form of cancer, with low early diagnosis rates and high mortality rates, posing a global health challenge. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) assume a crucial role within the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) of LUAD. Here, a collection of 97 HSP-related genes (HSPGs) was assembled based on prior literature reports, of which 36 HSPGs were differentially expressed in LUAD. In The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort, we constructed a prognostic model for risk stratification and prognosis prediction by integrating 13 HSPGs. In addition, the prognostic significance and predictive efficacy of the HSP-related riskscore were examined and validated in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohort. To facilitate the clinical use of this riskscore, we also established a nomogram scale by verifying its effectiveness through different methods. In light of these outcomes, we concluded a significant correlation between HSPs and TME in LUAD, and the riskscore can be a reliable prognostic indicator. Furthermore, this study evaluated the differences in immunophenoscore, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion score, and sensitivity to several common chemotherapy drugs among LUAD individuals in different risk groups, which may aid in clinical decision-making for immune therapy and chemotherapy in LUAD individuals.