The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of age and acute infection on the production of Hsp32 in human peripheral blood cells, using flow cytometry. Thirty-five controls and 31 patients with acute infection participated. We found that the age and inflammatory status correlated positively with Hsp32 levels in both heat shocked (HS) and non-HS monocytes and lymphocytes. In addition, the HS response of Hsp32 was different in these peripheral blood cells; whereas HS exerted an up-regulation in the levels of Hsp32 in monocytes, a significant decrease in Hsp32 levels was noticed for lymphocytes. We found significant relationships between circulating C-reactive protein as well as interleukin-6 and the levels of Hsp32 in cells. We conclude that Hsp32 is up-regulated in the elderly as well as in individuals with inflammation, and that the HS response of Hsp32 is different in monocytes as compared to lymphocytes.