title: Heat-shock proteins in stromal joint tissues: innocent bystanders or disease-initiating proteins?
abstract: Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that are highly conserved between species. In recent decades it has become clear that these proteins play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases by (dys)regulating the immune system and by direct effects on the stromal tissues of the joint. In this review we discuss current insights into the expression pattern of HSPs in connective tissues, the direct biological role of HSPs in stromal tissues and the potential clinical applications.
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. stijn.lambrecht@ugent.be.
authors: Stijn
authors: S
authors: Lambrecht
authors: Nele
authors: N
authors: Juchtmans
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Elewaut
mesh_terms: D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones
keywords: arthritis; connective; osteoarthritis; stress response; tissue inflammation