Regulatory effect of heat shock protein 70 in stress-induced rat intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Psychological stress is one of the factors associated with many human diseases; the mechanisms need to be further understood.


METHODS
Rats were subjected to chronic water avoid stress. Intestinal epithelial heat shock protein (HSP) 70 was evaluated. The intestinal epithelial permeability was examined with Ussing chamber technique.


RESULTS
HSP70 was detected in normal intestinal epithelial cells. Psychological stress decreased HSP70 in the intestinal epithelial cells that correlated with the stress-induced intestinal epithelial hyperpermeability. Pretreatment with HSP70 abrogated stress-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic stress inhibits HSP70 activity in rat intestinal epithelial layer that is associated with intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction, which can be prevented by pretreatment with HSP70 protein. (Yang PC, Tu YH, Perdue MH, Oluwole C, Struiksma S. Regulatory effect of heat shock protein 70 in stress-induced rat intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction.
The McMaster Brain-Body Institute, St. Joseph Healthcare and Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Ping-Chang
PC
Yang
Ya-Hong
YH
Tu
Mary H
MH
Perdue
Christine
C
Oluwole
Stevie
S
Struiksma