engleski

SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF HSP60 AND ANTI-HSP60 IN PATIENTS WITH CEREBRAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS

INTRODUCTION In the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis both inflammatory and immune components seems to be involved (1). Serum concentrations of heat shock proteins Hsp60 and respective antibodies should contribute to the explanation of possible relationship between inflammation and immune response that could be assumed in development of cerebral atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Materials The group of 50 cerebral atherosclerosis patients evaluated by digital subtraction angiography, with more than 50 % stenosis of cerebral arteries and the control group of 28 healthy individuals were investigated for circulating Hsp60 and anti-Hsp60. Methods Hsp60 and anti-Hsp60 were assayed by commercially available ELISA kits (Stressgen, Assay Designs, USA). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The concentration of Hsp60 did not differ significantly between control and cerebral atherosclerosis group (14, 24 µg/L, 0-31, 81 µg/L, vs. 13, 78 µg/L, 0-31, 84 µg/L). Anti-Hsp60 was higher in the cerebral atherosclerosis group than in the control group (23, 62 ng/L, 17, 84-34, 93 ng/L, vs. 15, 28 ng/L, 10, 05-22, 48 ng/L ; p=0, 003) indicating possible involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease. The examinees of the cerebral atherosclerosis group were differently distributed against the control group regarding the anti-Hsp60. The high anti-Hsp60 level group (above the median value) contained 77 % cerebral stenosis patients, whereas the low anti-Hsp60 group had 51 % cerebral stenosis patients (p<0.001). It is proven that Hsp60 directly stimulate vascular endothelial cells and macrophages thus stimulating inflammatory response which contributes to atherosclerosis development (2). High Hsp60 levels could be found in patients with early atherosclerosis while in advanced disease there was no difference in the concentrations of Hsp60 (3). Results, presented in this study that refer to advanced disease with high degree of cerebral arteries stenosis, are in line with literature data. Higher concentration of anti-Hsp60 in the cerebral sclerosis patients could be the consequence of the autoimmune reaction that contributes to the inflammation and bursting of atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION The circulating anti-Hsp60 could be associated with cerebral atherosclerosis with stenosis higher than 50 %. REFERENCES 1. Kaperonis EA, Liapis CD, Kakisis JD, Dimitroulis D, Papavassiliou VG. Inflammation and atherosclerosis. Eur. J. Endovasc, Surg. 2006 ; 31: 386-393. 2. Xu Q. Role of heat shock proteins in atherosclerosis. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 2002 ; 22: 1547-1559. 3. Pockley AG, Wu R, Lemne C, Kiessling R, de Faire U, Frostegard J. Circulating heat shock protein 60 is associated with early cardiovascular disease. Hypertension. 2000. ; 36: 303-307.

Hsp; antiHsp; atherosclerosis

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