title: Role of heat shock proteins (molecular chaperones) in intestinal mucosal protection.
abstract: Most studies into the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have primarily focused on the cytotoxic agents and processes involved in producing mucosal injury, including the immune system. However, less consideration has been given to the inherent mechanisms of cytoprotection and cellular repair in the intestinal mucosa. This review will focus on intestinal mucosal protection against cytotoxic agents and cellular stress mainly from the viewpoint of expression and function of heat shock proteins, in their role of "molecular chaperones," as internal cytoprotectants. Elucidation of such stress-responses in the intestinal mucosa may provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of cytoprotection and cellular repair, and present new strategies for IBD therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita 010-8543, Japan. otaka@med.akita-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Michiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otaka
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odashima
authors.forename: Sumio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019610:Cytoprotection; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones