Increased serum levels of heat shock protein 70 are associated with low risk of coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies suggest that heat shock protein (HSP) 60 has a contributory role in atherosclerosis development. We examined whether circulating HSP70 protein and anti-HSP70 antibodies are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD).


RESULTS
Blood samples from 421 patients (62% men, mean age 57 years) evaluated for CAD by coronary angiography were tested. Serum HSP70 was detectable in 67% of study subjects with levels ranging from 0.2 to 27.1 ng/mL (mean, 1.08; median, 0.5). HSP70 levels were higher in non-CAD patients than CAD patients (median, 0.72 versus 0.34; P=0.0006). Individuals with HSP70 levels above the median (0.5 ng/mL) had half the risk of CAD than individuals with levels below the median (adjusted odds ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence limit, 0.32 to 0.86). The association of high HSP70 levels with low CAD risk was independent of traditional CAD risk factors (P=0.011). Disease severity (number of diseased vessels) was also inversely associated with HSP70 protein levels (P=0.010). The adjusted odds ratio of having multivessel disease for patients with high HSP70 protein levels was 0.54 (95% confidence limit, 0.36 to 0.81). In contrast, no association between anti-HSP70 IgG seropositivity and the prevalence of CAD was found (P=0.916).


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide the first evidence that high levels of human HSP70 are associated with the low CAD risk, probably through its multiple protective effects on a cell's response to stress.
Cardiovascular Research Institute, Washington Hospital Center, 108 Irving St NW, GHRB Room 217, Washington, DC 20010, USA. jianhui.zhu@medstar.net
Jianhui
J
Zhu
Arshed A
AA
Quyyumi
Hongsheng
H
Wu
Gyorgy
G
Csako
David
D
Rott
Alexandra
A
Zalles-Ganley
Jibike
J
Ogunmakinwa
Julian
J
Halcox
Stephen E
SE
Epstein
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D002097:C-Reactive Protein