title: Expression of one important chaperone protein, heat shock protein 27, in neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterised by accumulations of misfolded proteins that can colocalise with chaperone proteins (for example, heat shock protein 27 (HSP27)), which might act as modulators of protein aggregation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The role of HSP27 in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and motor neuron disease (MND) was investigated. We used immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis to determine the distribution and amount of this protein in the frontal and temporal cortices of diseased and control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HSP27 immunostaining presented as accumulations of granules within neuronal and glial cell perikarya. Patients with AD and FTLD were affected more often, and showed greater immunostaining for HSP27, than patients with MND and controls. In FTLD, there was no association between HSP27 and histological type. The neuropathological changes of FTLD, AD and MND were not immunoreactive to HSP27. Western blot analysis revealed higher HSP27 expression in FTLD than in controls, but without qualitative differences in banding patterns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pattern of HSP27 immunostaining observed may reflect the extent of ongoing neurodegeneration in affected brain areas and is not specific to FTLD, AD or MND. It may represent an accumulation of misfolded, damaged or unwanted proteins, awaiting or undergoing degradation.
authors.affiliation: The Third Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 5 Haiyuncang Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700 China ; Clinical and Cognitive Sciences Research Group, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, M6 8HD UK.
authors.forename: Xuekai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Third Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 5 Haiyuncang Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700 China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: The Third Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 5 Haiyuncang Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700 China ; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Neurology Centre, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 5 Haiyuncang Street, Beijing, 100700 People's Republic of China China.
authors.forename: Jinzhou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Cognitive Sciences Research Group, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, M6 8HD UK.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Cognitive Sciences Research Group, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, M6 8HD UK.
authors.forename: Yvonne S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Cognitive Sciences Research Group, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, M6 8HD UK ; Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Foundation NHS Trust, Salford, M6 8HD UK.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mann