Enhanced Expression of Heat Shock Protein Gene in Kidney Lymphoid Cells of Lupus-Prone Mice During Growing Process

Abstract

In the present study, the spontaneous elevation of the transcription of heat shock protein (hsp 70) gene in kidney lymphoid cells of lupus-prone mice (MRL-lpr/lpr) is shown by Northern blot and nuclear run on transcription assay. By quantification analysis of hsp 70 gene transcription, more than ten times of the enhanced transcription of hsp 70 gene in kidney lymphoid cells of lupus-prone mice was first found, in comparison to normal control mice (MRL-+/+). The elevation of transcriptional level of hsp 70 gene was also found to increase during growing process and seemed to have positive correlation with deterioration of lupus-related renal disorders in lupus-prone mice. Our observation suggests that heat shock proteins may be involved in possible significance in the pathophysiology of nephrotic lesions of lupus-prone mice due to lupus-related change of kidney lymphoid cells.

Key Words:

• SLE
• heat shock protein
• gene transcription
• Lupus-prone mice
• kidney diseases
• lymphoid cells