Heat shock affects cell cycling in the neural plate of cultured rat embryos: a flow cytometric study

The effects of heat shock on cell cycling in the mammalian neuroectoderm were determined by applying heat shocks to cultured rat embryos at the neural plate stage, as part of a study on the teratogenic effects of heat shock on neural development. The heat shocks had been characterized previously (Walsh et al.: Teratology 36:181-191, 1987) with respect to their effects on the gross morphological development of the rat embryos. The effects on cell cycling were observed in DNA histograms of neural plate cells recorded in a flow cytometer after staining with DAPI. The mild heat shock (42 degrees C for 10 min) arrested cells at entry to S phase. The teratogenic heat shock (43 degrees C for 7.5 min) arrested cells at entry to S phase also but for a longer time and inhibited cycling through S phase. After each arrest, a synchronized peak of cells later entered S phase and progressed through the cycle. The induced-thermotolerance heat shock, which was the mild heat shock followed after an interval by the teratogenic heat shock, showed that pre-treatment with the mild heat shock reduced the magnitude of the response to the teratogenic heat shock. The cell-cycle inhibitor ICRF 159 showed the effects on cycling rates of the heat-shock treatments. The arrest of cells at entry to S phase by heat shock may function to prevent cells entering DNA synthesis under non-optimal conditions. We report estimates of proportions of non-proliferative cells in the neural plate of the rat embryos.     

T lymphocyte stress response. II. Protection of translation and DNA replication against some forms of stress by prior hyperthermic stress

We have compared the effects of a mild heat shock and febrile temperatures on heat-shock protein (hsp) synthesis and development of stress tolerance in T lymphocytes. Our previous studies demonstrated that febrile temperatures (less than or equal to 41 degrees C) induced the synthesis of hsp110, hsp90, and the constitutive or cognate form of hsp70 (hscp70; a weak induction of the strongly stress-induced hsp70 was also observed. In the studies reported herein, we demonstrate that a mild heat shock (42.5 degrees C) reverses this ratio; that is, hsp70 and not hscp70 is the predominate member of this family synthesized at this temperature. Modest heat shock also enhanced the synthesis of hsp110 and hsp90. In order to assess the relationship between hsp synthesis and the acquisition of thermotolerance, purified T cells were first incubated at 42.5 degrees C (induction temperature) and then subsequently subjected to a severe heat-shock challenge (45 degrees C, 30 min). T cells first incubated at a mild heat-shock temperature were capable of total protein synthesis at a more rapid rate following a severe heat shock than control cells (induction temperature 37 degrees C). This phenomenon, which has been previously termed translational tolerance, did not develop in cells incubated at the febrile temperature (induction temperature 41 degrees C). Protection of translation also extended to immunologically relevant proteins such as interleukin-2 and the interleukin-2 receptor. Because clonal expansion is a critical event during an immune response, the effects of hyperthermic stress on DNA replication (mitogen-induced T cell proliferation) was also evaluated in thermotolerant T cells. DNA synthesis in control cells (induction temperature 37 degrees C) was severely inhibited following heat-shock challenge at 44 degrees C or 45 degrees C; in contrast, T cells preincubated at 42.5 degrees C rapidly recovered their DNA synthetic capacity. T cells preincubated at a febrile temperature were moderately protected against hyperthermic stress. The acquisition of thermotolerance was also associated with enhanced resistance to chemical (ethanol)-induced stress but not to heavy metal toxicity (cadmium) or dexamethasone-induced immunosuppression. These studies suggest that prior hsp synthesis may protect immune function against some forms of stress (e.g., febrile episode) but would be ineffective against others such as elevated glucocorticoid levels which normally occur during an immune response.     

Patterns of protein synthesis in various cells after extreme heat shock

The analysis of proteins synthesized in rat thymocytes and mouse teratocarcinoma PCC-4 Aza 1 and myeloma Sp2/0 cells after 1 h of treatment at 42 or 44 degrees C was carried out. Shock at 42 degrees C reduced the total synthetic rate of proteins in all three cell lines and induced "classical" heat-shock protein with a mass of 70 kDa (hsp 70). Heat shock at 44 degrees C resulted in almost complete inhibition of protein synthesis; only a small amount of hsp 70 was synthesized. Meanwhile a new 48-kDa polypeptide (pI = 7.5) was found in the cells exposed to severe heat shock. This protein was compared by peptide mapping with other known polypeptides of the same size: heat-shock protein from chicken embryo cells and mitogen-stimulated polypeptide from human lymphoid cells. The peptide maps were not identical. It was also shown that after a shock at 44 degrees C teratocarcinoma cells were able to accumulate anomalous amounts of hsp 70 despite hsp 70 synthesis inhibition. The data show that reaction of various cells to extreme heat shock depends heavily on cell type.     

Relationship between heat-shock protein synthesis and thermotolerance in rainbow trout fibroblasts

Summary The role of heat-shock protein synthesis in the development of thermotolerance by rainbow trout fibroblasts was examined. During the first 6 h after being shifted from 22°C to 28°C, cells of the rainbow trout fibroblast line, RTG-2, rapidly synthesized the major heat-shock proteins (hsps), hsps 87, 70 and 27, and developed tolerance to 32°C. After 24 h at 28°C hsp synthesis was drastically reduced but thermotolerance was maintained. If these thermotolerant cells were shifted to 32°C, hsp synthesis continued at a very low level, but if they were subsequently returned to 22°C, synthesis of hsps 70 and 27 was induced again. The addition of actinomycin D during the first 6 h at 28°C prevented hsp synthesis and the development of thermotolerance. The presence of actinomycin D during the incubation of thermotolerant cultures at 32°C blocked the reinitiation of hsps synthesis at 22°C but had no effect on survival. Therefore, the hsps that accumulated at 28°C were sufficient to allow cells to survive a subsequent thermal stress at 32°C.     

The Role of the 90-kDa Heat Shock Protein in Cell Cycle Control and Differentiation of the Monoblastoid Cell Line U937

The human monoblastoid cell line, U937, has been widely used to study proliferation and differentiation in the monocyte–macrophage lineage. Recent evidence from other cell systems suggests that heat shock proteins (hsps) may participate in these processes. Therefore, we have examined expression of hsp and the effect of either increased or decreased expression of the hsp90 in U937 cells. Parental U937 cells express high levels of hsp90, hsp73, and hsp65, but little hsp72. Heat shock at 42°C for 30 min increased hsp72 levels but caused no change in hsp90. U937 cells transfected with the expression vector pBA.4 containing either an anti-sense or a sense hsp90 cDNA insert showed constitutive decrease, or increase, in expression of hsp90. Decreased hsp90 levels slowed the rate of cell division and levels of hsp90 correlated both with the responses to phorbol esters and with phenotypic changes: anti-sense-transfected cells expressed less CD50. Sense-transfected cells showed no change in cell cycle, but expressed less CD14 than controls. Thus, hsp90 plays a role in the monocyte–macrophage lineage, participating in proliferation and cell cycle control and in the acquisition of functional heterogeneity of the mature macrophage phenotype, with potential effects on the role of the macrophage in innate immunity.     

Heat shock response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants altered in cyclic AMP-dependent protein phosphorylation.

When Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells grown at 23 degrees C were transferred to 36 degrees C, they initiated synthesis of heat shock proteins, acquired thermotolerance to a lethal heat treatment given after the temperature shift, and arrested their growth transiently at the G1 phase of the cell division cycle. The bcy1 mutant which resulted in production of cyclic AMP (cAMP)-independent protein kinase did not synthesize the three heat shock proteins hsp72A, hsp72B, and hsp41 after the temperature shift. The bcy1 cells failed to acquire thermotolerance to the lethal heat treatment and were not arrested at the G1 phase after the temperature shift. In contrast, the cyr1-2 mutant, which produced a low level of cAMP, constitutively produced three heat shock proteins and four other proteins without the temperature shift and was resistant to the lethal heat treatment. The results suggest that a decrease in the level of cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation results in the heat shock response, including elevated synthesis of three heat shock proteins, acquisition of thermotolerance, and transient arrest of the cell cycle.     

Common antigenicity of mouse 42 degrees C-specific heat-shock protein with mouse HSP 105

Mammalian cells incubated at 42 degrees C synthesize a specific heat-shock protein at 42 degrees C (42 degrees C-hsp) that is not induced by heat-shock at 45 degrees C or by other stresses that induce major heat shock proteins (Hatayama et al. (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 137, 957-963). Antibody raised against a heat-shock protein with molecular weight of 105,000 (hsp 105) purified from mouse FM 3A cells cross-reacted to the 42 degrees C-hsp of the same cells. The antibody reacted only weakly to hsp 105 and 42 degrees C-hsp of human HeLa cells. These results suggested that hsp 105 and 42 degrees C-hsp have the same antigenic determinant, and that 42 degrees C-hsp may have a structure similar to that of hsp 105.     

Acquisition of thermotolerance during development of Blastocladiella emersonii

In the fungus Blastocladiella emersonii the synthesis of heat-shock proteins is developmentally regulated; particular subsets of heat-shock proteins are induced by heat shock during sporulation, germination and growth and some heat shock-related proteins are spontaneously expressed during sporulation (Bonato et al., 1987, Eur. J. Biochem., in press). Nevertheless, acquisition of thermotolerance can be induced at any stage of the life cycle. The development of thermotolerance is correlated with the enhanced synthesis of some heat-shock proteins: hsp 82a, hsp 82b, hsp 76, hsp 70, hsp 60, hsp 25, hsp 17b. Other hsps are not specifically involved in thermotolerance.     

The relationship between hsp 70 localization and heat resistance

Using indirect immunofluorescence we have investigated the kinetics of nuclear accumulation and removal of hsp 70 in HA-1 Chinese hamster fibroblasts exposed to elevated temperatures. The kinetics of accumulation of hsp 70 in the nuclei were found to be time/temperature dependent at all temperatures tested (42-45 degrees C). At a given temperature, the fraction of cells manifesting nuclear localization of hsp 70 increased with exposure time. For a given duration of heating, the fraction of cells manifesting nuclear localization of hsp 70 increased with the temperature. The kinetics of the nuclear accumulation of hsp 70 were similar for normal HA-1 cells, their heat-resistant variants, and transiently thermotolerant cells (triggered by prior exposure to a brief heat shock or to sodium arsenite). Upon return to 37 degrees C after heat shock, the kinetics of removal of the hsp 70 associated with the nucleus was dependent on the severity of the initial heat challenge. However, for a given heat dose, the decay of nuclear localization of hsp 70 was more rapid in thermotolerant and heat-resistant cells than in their normal counterparts. These results suggest that the increased levels of hsp 70 associated with the transient or permanently heat-resistant state may play a direct role in restoring and/or repairing heat-induced nuclear and nucleolar alterations associated with heat-induced cell killing. Furthermore, they also suggest that the heat-resistant state may involve ameliorated repair of heat-induced cellular alterations.     

Heat shock protein 27 stimulates recovery of RNA and protein synthesis following a heat shock

Constitutive expression of human hsp27 resulted in a 100-fold increase in survival to a single lethal heat shock in CHO cells without effecting the development of thermotolerance. A possible mechanism for the thermoprotective function of hsp27 may be increased recovery of protein synthesis and RNA synthesis following a heat shock. A lethal heat shock (44°C, 30 min) results in a 90% reduction in the rate of protein synthesis in non-tolerant cells. Control transfected cells recovered protein synthesis to a pre-heat shock rate 10 h after the heat shock; while cell lines that constitutively express human hsp27 recovered 6 h after the heat shock. Thermotolerant cells had a 50% reduction in protein synthesis, which recovered within 7 h following the heat shock. The same lethal heat shock (44°C, 30 min) reduced RNA synthesis by 60% in the transfected cell lines, with the controls recovering in 7 h; while the hsp27 expressing cell lines recovered within 5 h. Thermotolerant cells had a 40% reduction in RNA synthesis and were able to recover within 4 h. The enhanced ability of hsp27 to facilitate recovery of protein synthesis and RNA synthesis following a heat shock may provide the cell with a survival advantage. J. Cell. Biochem. 66:153–164, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

Dissociation of 68,000 Mr heat shock protein synthesis from thermotolerance expression in rat fibroblasts

Rat embryonic fibroblasts growing exponentially at either 35, 37, or 39 degrees C were exposed to 42 degrees C for times up to 6 hr. Cell survival was unaffected by this heat shock in cultures growing at 39 degrees C but survival was decreased in a temperature dependent manner in cells growing at 37 or 35 degrees C. Exposure to 42 degrees C of cells previously adapted to 35 or 37 degrees C resulted in the induction of heat shock proteins (hsps) with apparent molecular weights of 68,000 (hsp 68), 70,000 (hsp 70), and 89,000 (hsp 89); cells previously adapted to 39 degrees C expressed all hsps except hsp 68. Inasmuch as the synthesis of certain hsps may function to protect cells from thermal damage, these data indicate that hsp 68 may not be required for this adaptation-related thermotolerant survival response. Hsp 68 may only be expressed in cells destined to die.     

Constitutive expression of heat shock proteins hsp25 and hsp70 in the rat oviduct during neonatal development, the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy

Certain heat shock proteins are regulated by steroid hormones and are associated with oestrogen receptor function in reproductive tissues, indicating that these proteins have a role during implantation, decidualization and placentation. In the present study, the expression of hsp25, hsp70 and oestrogen receptor alpha were examined by immunohistochemistry in oviducts from rats during neonatal development, the oestrous cycle and during early pregnancy. Oestrogen receptor alpha was the first protein observed in the neonatal oviduct, and its expression preceded that of hsp70 and hsp25. Although these heat shock proteins have been associated with the oestrogen receptor, this study showed that during early development of the oviduct, the receptor protein was not associated with the concomitant expression of hsp25 and hsp70. However, these heat shock proteins were expressed when oviductal cells became differentiated. In the adult oviduct, hsp70 was more abundant than hsp25, moreover, there were no significant modifications in expression of hsp25 during the oestrous cycle. In contrast, the expression of hsp70 was significantly higher in epithelial cells during dioestrus, when the maximum amount of oestrogen receptor alpha was also observed. Therefore, the present study shows that hsp70, but not hsp25, is an oviductal protein modulated by the oestrous cycle and that it is a protein marker for specific phases of the oestrous cycle. In addition, hsp70 was more responsive to the hormonal changes in the infundibulum and ampullar regions of the oviduct. During early pregnancy, hsp25 expression was downregulated (unlike in the endometrium), whereas hsp70 was relatively abundant in the oviduct. hsp70 was observed in all functional segments of the oviduct during pregnancy, indicating that in the oviduct, this protein is modulated by oestrogens and progesterone and possibly by other pregnancy-related hormones.     

Regulation of the synthesis of heat-shock proteins in heat-resistant variants of Chinese hamster fibroblasts

The synthesis of the major heat-shock proteins (hsp) was compared in normal and heat-resistant Chinese hamster fibroblasts which express higher levels of the 70 kDa heat-shock protein (hsp70). Following exposure to a variety of experimental conditions that induce the elevated synthesis of the hsp, higher relative levels of hsp70 and lower relative levels of hsp89 and hsp110 were found in the heat-resistant variants. This effect was observed with all inducers tested. The relatively greater synthesis of hsp70 and relatively lower synthesis of hsp89 occurred at all temperatures tested and was found to be independent of cell culture conditions. The relatively greater increase in the levels of hsp70 in the heat-resistant variants after a mild heat shock was found to be a reflection of elevated levels of messenger RNA coding for this polypeptide. These results indicate that the heat-shock response in mammalian cells displays coordinate regulatory features and that the alteration of the expression of one of the hsp may affect the expression of the others.     

Differential regulation of small heat-shock genes in plants: analysis of a water-stress-inducible and developmentally activated sunflower promoter

We have isolated two sunflower genes, Ha hsp 18.6 G2 and Ha hsp 17.7 G4, that encode small heat shock proteins (sHSPs). RNAse A protection experiments, carried out with RNA probes transcribed from each gene and hybridized to sunflower total RNA, allowed us to distinguish their mRNA accumulation patterns. In sunflower, Ha hsp 17.7 G4 mRNAs accumulated during zygotic embryogenesis at 25°C. In vegetative tissues, these mRNAs accumulated in response to either heat shock (42°C), abscisic acid (ABA), or mild water stress treatments. In all cases, the mRNAs were transcribed from the same initiation site. In contrast, Ha hsp 18.6 G2 mRNAs accumulated only in response to heat-shock. This result demonstrates differential regulation of these two sHSP genes. The complex regulation depicted by the Ha hsp 17.7 G4 promoter has been further analyzed in transgenic tobacco, using G4::GUS translational fusions. Developmental induction of Ha hsp 17.7 G4 during zygotic embryogenesis was faithfully reproduced in the transgenic plants. 5-distal sequences (between -1132 and -395) were required to confer a preferential spatial expression of GUS activity in the cotyledons. More proximal sequences (from -83 to +163) conferred to the chimeric genes most of the developmental regulation, and the responses to ABA and heat shock characteristic of the Ha hsp 17.7 G4 promoter. The water stress response of this gene was not reproduced in transgenic tobacco and, thus, could be uncoupled from its regulation during embryogenesis.     

Nucleosomal organization of a BPV minichromosome containing a human H4 histone gene

Summary When the body temperature of rats is elevated to 42°C, four heat shock proteins, with the molecular weights of 70000, 71000, 85000, and 100000 (hsp 70, hsp 71, hsp 85, and hsp 100, respectively), are induced in various tissues of rats (Fujio et al., J Biochem 101, 181–187, 1987). Heat shock proteins are induced by various stresses other than heat in varieties of cultured cells, so we studied whether heat shock proteins are induced in intact rats by different treatments. Analysis of the translation products of poly(A) + RNA isolated from the livers of rats recovering from ischemia of the liver showed that mRNAs for hsp 70, hsp 71, and hsp 85 were induced. These hsp-mRNAs were also induced in the livers of rats 6 h after a partial hepatectomy, and had returned to control levels 24 h after the surgery. These results suggested that heat shock proteins have not only the function of protection against various stresses but also physiological functions in the normal growth and development of animals.     

Heat shock-induced arrests in different cell cycle phases of rat C6-glioma cells are attenuated in heat shock-primed thermotolerant cells

The response kinetics of rat C6 glioma cells to heat shock was investigated by means of flow cytometric DNA measurements and western blot analysis of HSP levels. The results showed that the effects on cell cycle progression are dependent on the cell cycle phase at which heat shock is applied, leading to either G1 or G2/M arrest in randomly proliferating cells. When synchronous cultures were stressed during G0 they were arrested with G1 DNA content and showed prolongation of S and G2 phases after release from the block. In proliferating cells, HSC70 and HSP68 were induced during the recovery and reached maximum levels just before cells were released from the cell cycle blocks. Hyperthermic pretreatment induced thermotolerance both in asynchronous and synchronous cultures as evidenced by the reduced arrest of cell cycle progression after the second heat shock. Thermotolerance development was independent of the cell cycle phase. Pre-treated cells already had high HSP levels and did not further increase the amount of HSP after the second treatment. However, as in unprimed cells, HSP reduction coincided with the release from the cell cycle blocks. These results imply that the cell cycle machinery can be rendered thermotolerant by heat shock pretreatment and supports the assumption that HSP70 family members might be involved in thermotolerance development.