Heat shock protein 70-1 gene expression in pediatric heart surgery using blood cardioplegia.
BACKGROUND
In response to many stress stimuli, cardiomyocytes produce a common set of heat shock proteins (HSP). Up-regulation of HSP70-1 (the inducible isoform) is known to reduce the risk of myocardial cell damage during open-heart surgery and seems to be protective against ischemia. We assessed hsp70-1 gene expression during blood cardioplegic arrest in children undergoing surgical correction of congenital heart defects.


METHODS
In tissue samples taken from the right atrium of 59 pediatric patients, we examined hsp70-1 gene expression using a real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR, with 18S rRNA as internal standard.


RESULTS
On average, hsp70-1 gene expression was higher than the baseline level by a factor of 1.44+/- 0.17 (mean+/-SEM). A significant relationship between hsp70-1 mRNA levels and aortic cross-clamp time was observed (R(2)=0.069, p=0.044). Conversely, no significant correlation was observed between hsp70-1 mRNA levels and temperature.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that blood cardioplegia can induce an increment in the expression of hsp70-1, confirming its protective role in ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Vittorini
Simona
S
Molecular Cardiology and Genetics Laboratory, National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, G. Pasquinucci Hospital, Massa, Italy.
Storti
Simona
S
Andreani
Giovanna
G
Giusti
Lauro
L
Murzi
Bruno
B
Furfori
Pierantonio
P
Baroni
Alessandra
A
De Lucia
Vittoria
V
Luisi
Vincenzo Stefano
VS
Clerico
Aldo
A
D000293:Adolescent; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics*
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C081884:heat-shock protein 70.1