title: HSP-dependent protection against gastrointestinal diseases.
abstract: It is well known that heat shock proteins (HSPs) are induced by various stressors in order to confer protection against such stressors. Since stressor-induced tissue damage is involved in various diseases, especially gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastric ulcer, it has been thought that HSPs are protective against these diseases. Indirect lines of evidence, such as identification of geranylgeranylacetone (GGA, a leading anti-ulcer drug in Japanese market) as non-toxic HSP-inducer, suggest that HSPs provide a major protective mechanism against irritant-induced gastric lesions. However, no direct evidences that support this notion exits. Furthermore, because GGA has other gastroprotective effects, it was not clear whether HSP-induction by GGA is the main mechanism for its anti-ulcer effect. In this article, I review our recent work on protective roles of HSPs against gastrointestinal diseases, using transgenic mice. We obtained genetic evidence showing not only that HSPs are protective against irritant-induced gastric lesions but also that GGA achieves its anti-ulcer effect through induction of HSPs. We also obtained genetic evidence that HSPs are protective against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-related colitis and lesions of small intestine. Furthermore, we found that GGA is effective against these diseases. Based on these observations, we propose that non-toxic HSP-inducers, such as GGA are therapeutically beneficial for these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan. mizu@gpo.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizushima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007421:Intestine, Small; D007509:Irritants; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D007509:Irritants; D020011:Protective Agents; C031049:geranylgeranylacetone