Heat shock protein 60 reactive T cells in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: what is new?

Arthritis Res Ther. 2009;11(3):231. doi: 10.1186/ar2674. Epub 2009 May 19.

Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a disease characterized by chronic joint inflammation, caused by a deregulated immune response. In patients with JIA, heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly expressed in the synovial lining tissues of inflamed joints. HSPs are endogenous proteins that are expressed upon cellular stress and are able to modulate immune responses. In this review, we concentrate on the role of HSPs, especially HSP60, in modulating immune responses in both experimental and human arthritis, with a focus on JIA. We will mainly discuss the tolerogenic immune responses induced by HSPs, which could have a beneficial effect in JIA. Overall, we will discuss the immune modulatory capacity of HSPs, and the underlying mechanisms of HSP60-mediated immune regulation in JIA, and how this can be translated into therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Juvenile / immunology*
  • Arthritis, Juvenile / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Juvenile / pathology*
  • Chaperonin 60 / physiology*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Humans
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology*

Substances

  • Chaperonin 60