title: Elevated levels of the 90 kDa heat shock protein (hsp90) in SLE correlate with levels of IL-6 and autoantibodies to hsp90.
abstract: Levels of the 90 kDa heat shock protein (hsp90) are elevated in a subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) due to enhanced transcription of the hsp90beta gene. In cultured cells, transcription of the hsp90beta gene is induced following exposure to IL-6 or IL-10 which are known to be elevated in SLE patients. Here we have measured the levels of hsp90 protein and of IL-6, IL-10 in SLE patients and normal controls. We demonstrate that the levels of hsp90 protein in individual patients correlate with the IL-6 level but not with the level of IL-10. Moreover, hsp90 protein levels in patients correlate with the presence of IgG autoantibodies to hsp90. These results support a model in which elevated levels of IL-6 in SLE patients induce elevated levels of hsp90 protein which in turn results in the production of autoantibodies to this protein.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ripley
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Isenberg
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Latchman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016753:Interleukin-10