Heat Shock Proteins and Inflammation

Heat shock proteins (HSP) have received ample interest by immunologistsover recent years. Initially they were found to be dominantlyimmunogenic microbial antigens. The connection with inflammation wasestablished when it was uncovered that T cells specific for theseantigens have a crucial role in the induction and regulation ofexperimental arthritis. Since then, the raised presence of immunity toHSPs in virtually all conditions of inflammation, including autoimmunediseases, transplant rejection and atherosclerosis, has emphasised thecritical significance of immunity to HSPs in inflammatory diseases.