Reduction of HSP70 and HSC70 Heat Shock mRNA Induction by Pentobarbital After Transient Global Ischemia in Gerbil Brain

Abstract: The effect of pentobarbital on the induction of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and heat shock cognate protein (HSC) 70 mRNAs after transient global ischemia in gerbil brains was investigated by in situ hybridization using cloned cDNA probes selective for each mRNA species. In sham control brains, HSP70 mRNA was scarcely present, whereas HSC70 mRNA was present in most cell populations. After a 5-min occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries, HSP70 and HSC70 mRNAs were induced together in several cells and were especially dense in hippocampal dentate granule cells at 3 h, but the strong hybridization of the mRNAs continued only in hippocampal CA1 cells by 2 days. At 7 days after the ischemia, CA1 neuronal cell death was apparent, and the HSP70 mRNA disappeared and HSC70 mRNA content returned to the sham level, except for in the CA1 cells. Pretreatment with pentobarbital (40 mg/kg, i.p.) greatly reduced or inhibited the induction of HSP70 and HSC70 mRNAs at both early (3-h) and late (2-day) phases after ischemia. The drug also prevented CA1 cell death at 7 days along with the maintenance of expression of HSC70 mRNA at the sham control level. Hypothermic effects of pentobarbital were noted at 30 and 60 min after the reperfusion, whereas at 2 h there was no statistical significance between the control and drug-treated groups. The great reduction of HSP70 and HSC70 mRNA induction at both early and late phases after ischemia suggests that pentobarbital reduces intra- and/or postischemic stress and may protect CA1 cells from ischemic damage. These effects of the drug may be mainly due to its specific action rather than its hypothermic effects.     

Molecular identification and expression of heat shock cognate 70 (HSC70) in the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Heat shock protein 70s (HSP70s) are fundamental chaperone proteins that are indispensable to most living organisms. In order to investigate the function of HSP70 and heat shock response in shrimp, a heat shock cognate (HSC70) gene of the white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), containing a 1959-bp open reading frame, was cloned and characterized. The amino acid sequence, 71.5 kDa of molecular weight, shares 80-99.6% homology with 12 diverse species' HSP70s and HSC70s. In fact, some segments of the eukaryotic HSC70 sequence, such as ATP/GTP-binding site, cytoplasmic HSP70 C-terminal sequence, and GGMP/GAP repeats, are also found in the putative shrimp HSC70. Moreover, multi-tissue RT-PCR was performed to assay the basal expressions of HSC70 in the heart, gill, hepatopancreas, stomach, gut, and muscle. The results demonstrate that the basal expressions of HSC70 in theses organs are similar to that of beta-actin. Furthermore, quantitative real-time experiments showed that HSC70 was up-regulated in hepatopancreas (4.6-fold), stomach (5.9-fold), gut (2.6-fold), and muscle (3.5-fold) but not in the heart (1.7-fold) and gill (1.6-fold) after 2 h of heat shock. Nevertheless, the HSC70 was found to be highly expressed in the heart and gill following 6 h of heat shock. This suggests that HSC70 in white shrimp possess both short-term and long-term responses to heat shock stress, indicating this HSC70 may be a heat-dependent HSC70 member. Finally, we constructed an expression vector to generate HSC70 in Escherichia coli BL21, which displayed immune cross-reactivity with mouse HSP70 antibody. In conclusion, the identification and expression of white shrimp HSC70 gene present useful data for studying the molecular mechanism of heat shock response and the effect of heat shock proteins in shrimps' cytoprotection.     

HSP70-3 Interacts with Phospholipase Dδ and Participates in Heat Stress Defense

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) function as molecular chaperones and are key components responsible for protein folding, assembly, translocation, and degradation under stress conditions. However, little is known about how HSPs stabilize proteins and membranes in response to different hormonal or environmental cues in plants. Here, we combined molecular, biochemical, and genetic approaches to elucidate the involvement of cytosolic HSP70-3 in plant stress responses and the interplay between HSP70-3 and plasma membrane (PM)-localized phospholipase Dδ (PLDδ) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Analysis using pull-down, coimmunoprecipitation, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation revealed that HSP70-3 specifically interacted with PLDδ. HSP70-3 bound to microtubules, such that it stabilized cortical microtubules upon heat stress. We also showed that heat shock induced recruitment of HSP70-3 to the PM, where HSP70-3 inhibited PLDδ activity to mediate microtubule reorganization, phospholipid metabolism, and plant thermotolerance, and this process depended on the HSP70-3–PLDδ interaction. Our results suggest a model whereby the interplay between HSP70-3 and PLDδ facilitates the re-establishment of cellular homeostasis during plant responses to external stresses and reveal a regulatory mechanism in regulating membrane lipid metabolism.

The heat shock protein 70-3 interacts with phospholipase Dδ to regulate microtubule organization, lipid metabolism, and plant thermotolerance in Arabidopsis.     

Differential regulation of HSC70, HSP70, HSP90 alpha, and HSP90 beta mRNA expression by mitogen activation and heat shock in human lymphocytes

A subset of heat shock proteins, HSP90 alpha, HSP90 beta, and a member of the HSP70 family, HSC70, shows enhanced synthesis following mitogenic activation as well as heat shock in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In this study, we have examined expression of mRNA for these proteins, including the major 70-kDa heat shock protein, HSP70, in mononuclear cells following either heat shock or mitogenic activation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), ionomycin, and the phorbol ester, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate. The results demonstrate that the kinetics of mRNA expression of these four genes generally parallel the kinetics of enhanced protein synthesis seen following either heat shock or mitogen activation and provide clear evidence that mitogen-induced synthesis of HSC70 and HSP90 is due to increased mRNA levels and not simply to enhanced translation of preexisting mRNA. Although most previous studies have focused on cell cycle regulation of HSP70 mRNA, we found that HSP70 mRNA was only slightly and transiently induced by PHA activation, while HSC70 is the predominant 70-kDa heat shock protein homologue induced by mitogens. Similarly, HSP90 alpha appears more inducible by heat shock than mitogens while the opposite is true for HSP90 beta. These results suggest that, although HSP70 and HSC70 have been shown to contain similar promoter regions, additional regulatory mechanisms which result in differential expression to a given stimulus must exist. They clearly demonstrate that human lymphocytes are an important model system for determining mechanisms for regulation of heat shock protein synthesis in unstressed cells. Finally, based on kinetics of mRNA expression, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that HSC70 and HSP90 gene expression are driven by an IL-2/IL-2 receptor-dependent pathway in human T cells.     

Characterization of cold-induced heat shock protein expression in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes

Cardiac surgery is usually performed under conditions of cardioplegicischemic arrest. To protect the heart during the ischemic period, themyocardium is exposed to varying degrees of hypothermia. Althoughhyperthermia is known to induce the heat shock response, the moleculareffects of hypothermia on the myocardium have not been investigated. We havestudied the effect of hypothermia on the induction of heat shock proteins inprimary cultures of neonatal cardiomyocytes. Cold stress in cardiomyocytesinduced a 6 fold increase in the heat shock protein HSP70 as compared tocontrol. Increased HSP70 protein levels correlated with induction of HSP70mRNAs. Maximal levels of HSP70 protein appeared 4-6 h following recoveryfrom cold shock, indicating the transient nature of the response. Inductionof HSP25 mRNA was also observed in cold-shocked cardiomyocytes, even thoughincreased HSP25 protein levels were not detected. Our results indicate thathypothermia is capable of inducing the heat shock response in neonatalcardiomyocytes.     

BAG-1 proteins protect cardiac myocytes from simulated ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis via an alternate mechanism of cell survival independent of the proteasome

BAG-1 (Bcl-2-associated athanogene-1) proteins interact with the HSC70 and HSP70 heat shock proteins and have been proposed to promote cell survival by coordinating the function of these chaperones with the proteasome to facilitate protein degradation. Consistent with this proposal, previous analyses in cancer cells have demonstrated that BAG-1 requires protein domains important for HSC70/HSP70 and proteasome binding in order to interfere with the growth inhibition induced by heat shock (Townsend, P. A., Cutress, R. I., Sharp, A., Brimmell, M., and Packham, G. (2003) Cancer Res., 63, 4150-4157). Moreover, cellular stress triggered the relocalization of the cytoplasmic BAG-1S (approximately 36 kDa) isoform to the nucleus, and both BAG-1S and the constitutively nuclear localized BAG-1L (approximately 50 kDa) isoform suppressed heat shock-induced apoptosis to the same extent, suggesting a critical role in the nucleus. Because ischemia (I) and reperfusion (R) are important stress signals in acute and chronic heart disease, we have examined the expression and function of BAG-1 proteins in primary cardiac myocytes (CMs) and the Langendorff-perfused intact heart. The expression of both BAG-1 isoforms, BAG-1S and BAG-1L, was rapidly induced following ischemia in rat CM, and this was maintained during subsequent reperfusion. In control hearts, BAG-1S and BAG-1L were readily detectable in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. However, BAG-1S did not relocate to the nucleus following simulated I/R. BAG-1 interacted with both RAF-1 and HSC70 in CMs and the whole heart, and binding to HSC70 was increased following I/R. Overexpression of the human BAG-1S and BAG-1 M isoforms significantly reduced CM apoptosis following simulated I/R. By contrast, BAG-1L or BAG-1S fused to a heterologous nuclear localization sequence failed to protect CM. Finally, overexpression of BAG-1 deletion and point mutants unable to bind HSC70/HSP70 failed to offer cardioprotection. Surprisingly, a deletion mutant lacking the N-terminal ubiquitin-like domain, which mediates interaction with the proteasome, still promoted cardioprotection. Therefore, BAG-1 has a novel cardioprotective role, mediated via association with HSC70/HSP70, which is critical upon cytoplasmic localization but independent of the BAG-1 ubiquitin-like domain. Our studies demonstrate that BAG-1 can influence cellular response to stress by multiple mechanisms, potentially influenced by the cell type and nature of the stress signal.     

The HSC73 molecular chaperone: involvement in MHC class II antigen presentation.

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are conserved proteins, many of which share the ability for indiscriminate peptide binding and ATPase-coupled peptide release. In this paper, we show that heat shock cognate protein (HSC)73, a constitutively expressed member of the HSP70 family, could be a candidate for chaperone activity within the MHC class II presentation pathway. HSC73 expression in macrophages was shown to overlap with expression of MHC class II; overexpression of HSC73 in stable transfectants of a macrophage line markedly enhanced their presentation of exogenous Ag without affecting presentation of processing independent peptide. Ag from an exogenous source was demonstrated to associate with HSC73 in macrophages, and this association was sensitive to ATP treatment and inhibited by deoxyspergualin, an immunosuppressive agent that has previously been shown to bind specifically to HSC73. Furthermore, deoxyspergualin reduced Ag presentation by macrophages in relation to the amount of HSC73 expressed in these cells. The data are consistent with a potential role for HSC73 in binding and protecting peptides from extensive degradation and/or facilitating the kinetics of peptide transfer to MHC class II molecules.     

大鼠肝大部分切除前热休克对热休克蛋白和磷酸酶的影响

The contribution and content of the continuous heat shock protein 70/induced heat shock protein 68 (HSC70/HSP68), the contribution, variety and activity of acid phosphatases (ACP) and alkaline phosphatases (AKP) had been analysed qualitatively and quantitatively during the liver regeneration after 2/3 hepatectomy (PH) and HS (heat shock at 46 degrees C for 30 min, recovery for 8 h), which were compared with the results only by HS and only by PH. It was shown that the three kinds of treatment all can increase the activity of ACP, AKP and the expression of HSC70/HSP68, but with different change pattern. A further analysis show that after HS-PH the enhanced activity of ACP is related with that of 140 kD phosphatases, the enhanced activity of AKP is associated with that of 140 kD and 160-180 kD phosphatases. It can be reckoned from the results that ACP, AKP and HSC70/HSP68 all act on the heat shock response of hepatocyte and liver regeneration, and may take part in signal transduction in these processes, but ACP may play a dominant role in the start of hepatocyte multiplication, AKP and HSC70/HSP68 may play a dominant role in cytokineses.     

Expression of small heat shock protein alphaB-crystallin is induced after hepatic stellate cell activation

Using the differential PCR display method to select cDNA fragments that are differentially expressed after hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, we have isolated from activated HSCs a cDNA that corresponds to rat alphaB-crystallin. Northern blots confirmed expression of alphaB-crystallin in culture-activated HSCs but not in quiescent HSCs. Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical staining confirmed expression of alphaB-crystallin protein in activated but not quiescent HSCs. alphaB-crystallin is induced as early as 6 h after plating HSCs on plastic and continues to be expressed for 14 days in culture. Expression of alphaB-crystallin was also induced in vivo in activated HSCs from experimental cholestatic liver fibrosis. Confocal microscopy demonstrated a cytoplasmic distribution of alphaB-crystallin in a cytoskeletal pattern. Heat shock treatment resulted in an immediate perinuclear redistribution that in time returned to a normal cytoskeletal distribution. The expression pattern of alphaB-crystallin was similar to that of HSP25, another small heat shock protein, but differed from the classic heat shock protein HSP70. Therefore, alphaB-crystallin represents an early marker for HSC activation.     

The Constitutive Heat Shock Protein-70 Is Required for Optimal Expression of Myelin Basic Protein During Differentiation of Oligodendrocytes

To further elucidate the role of the constitutive heat shock protein-70 (HSC70) as a chaperone for the synthesis of myelin basic protein (MBP), HSC70 content was decreased in oligodendrocyte precursor cells prior to MBP expression either by transfection with an antisense oligonucleotide specific for HSC70, or by exposure to low levels of quercetin, a bioflavonoid known to decrease synthesis of HSC70. As these cells underwent differentiation in vitro, antisense treatment decreased HSC70 levels to 66% of controls. At the same time, a sharp induction resulted in the stress-inducible heat shock protein-70 (HSP70). Levels of two other stress proteins increased as well, namely, the 25-kDa heat shock protein (HSP25) and the 78-kDa glucose regulated protein (GRP78). MBP synthesis proceeded over a normal time course, but at only 50% of control values. As HSC70 content returned to normal, MBP synthesis was also restored to normal levels. Quercetin reduced the expression of HSC70 to an even greater extent than transfection, and prevented the induction of HSP70. In contrast to antisense-treated cells, MBP synthesis was essentially blocked in quercetin-treated cells even though levels of HSP25 and GRP78 increased. Taken together, these observations (a) indicate that HSP70 partially compensates for decreased chaperoning of nascent MBP by HSC70 (HSC70 and HSP70 are closely related and perform similar functions); (b) preclude the involvement of HSP25 and GRP78 in MBP synthesis; and (c) emphasize the requirement of HSC70 for optimal synthesis of MBP.     

Microtubule-active agents modify nitric oxide production in pulmonary artery endothelial cells

The effects of specific microtubule-active agents on nitric oxide (NO) production were examined in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC). PAEC were incubated with taxol, which stabilizes microtubules, or nocodazole, which disrupts microtubules, or both for 2-4 h. We then examined NO production, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activity, and eNOS association with heat shock protein (HSP) 90. Incubation of PAEC with taxol (15 microM) for 2-4 h resulted in an increase in NO production, eNOS activity, and the amount of HSP90 binding to eNOS. Incubation of PAEC with nocodazole (50 microM) for 2-4 h induced a decrease in NO production, eNOS activity, and the amount of HSP90 binding to eNOS. The presence of taxol in the culture medium prevented the effects of nocodazole on NO production and eNOS activity in PAEC. Geldanamycin, a HSP90 inhibitor, prevented the taxol-induced increase in eNOS activity. Taxol and nocodazole did not affect eNOS, HSP90, and tubulin protein contents in PAEC, as detected using Western blot analysis. These results indicate that the polymerization state of the microtubule cytoskeleton regulates NO production and eNOS activity in PAEC. The changes in eNOS activity induced by modification of microtubules are due, at least in part, to the altered binding of HSP90 to eNOS protein.     

Stress-induced release of HSC70 from human tumors

In this study, we demonstrate that the pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induces the active release of the constitutive form of the 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSC70) from K562 erythroleukemic cells. Treatment of K562 cells with IFN-gamma induced the upregulation of the inducible form of the 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70), but not the constitutive form of HSC70 within the cytosol, in a proteasome-dependent manner. In addition, IFN-gamma induced the downregulation of surface-bound HSC70, but did not significantly alter surface-bound HSP70 expression. These findings indicate that HSC70 can be actively released from tumor cells and is indicative of a previously unknown mechanism by which immune modulators stimulate the release of intracellular HSC70. This mechanism may account for the potent chaperokine activity of heat shock proteins recently observed during heat shock protein-based immunotherapy against a variety of cancers.     

Secretion of the heat shock proteins HSP70 and HSC70 by baby hamster kidney (BHK‐21) cells

The HSPs (heat‐shock proteins) of the 70‐kDa family, the constitutively expressed HSC70 (cognate 70‐kDa heat‐shock protein) and the stress‐inducible HSP70 (stress‐inducible 70‐kDa heat‐shock protein), have been reported to be actively secreted by various cell types. The mechanisms of the release of these HSPs are obscure, since they possess no consensus secretory signal sequence. We showed that baby hamster kidney (BHK‐21) cells released HSP70 and HSC70 in a serum‐free medium and that this process was the result of an active secretion of HSPs rather than the non‐specific release of the proteins due to cell death. It was found that the secretion of HSP70 and HSC70 is independent of de novo protein synthesis. BFA (Brefeldin A) did not inhibit the basal secretion of HSPs, indicating that the secretion of HSP70 and HSC70 from cells occurs by a non‐classical pathway. Exosomes did not contribute to the secretion of HSP70 and HSC70 by cells. MBC (methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin), a substance that disrupts the lipid raft organization, considerably reduced the secretion of both HSPs, indicating that lipid rafts are involved in the secretion of HSP70 and HSC70 by BHK‐21 cells. The results suggest that HSP70 and HSC70 are actively secreted by BHK‐21 cells in a serum‐free medium through a non‐classical pathway in which lipid rafts play an important role.     

Involvement of heat shock proteins in the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats.

The present study examined the expression of 73-kDa of heat shock cognate protein (HSC70), 72-kDa of heat shock protein (HSP70) and 47-kDa of HSP (HSP47) observed in the ulcer healing process in rats. Gastric ulcers were induced by a luminal application of acetic acid in male Donryu rats. During the ulcer healing process, the expression of HSPs in the ulcerated tissue was determined. A high level of HSC70 expression was observed both in the normal mucosa and ulcerated tissue, but the level did not change upon ulceration and ulcer healing. While HSP70 and HSP47 were markedly expressed in the ulcer base during ulceration, and decreased with ulcer healing. HSP70 expression in the ulcer margin was gradually increased with ulcer healing. Omeprazole accelerated the healing of gastric ulcers with strong inhibition of gastric acid secretion, while indomethactin delayed in ulcer healing despite slight inhibition of gastric acid secretion. Omperazole enhanced the expression of HSP70 both in the ulcer margin and base, but it reduced HSP47 expression in the ulcer base Indomethacin markedly enhanced HSP47 expression only in the ulcer base. In conclusion, the expression of HSP70 and HSP47 is changed during ulcer healing. Furthermore, it was suggested that the enhanced expression of HSP70 is involved in acceleration of ulcer healing, but overexpression of HSP47 is involved in delayed ulcer healing.     

Myocardial heat shock proteins during the development of heart failure

When cardiomyocytes are exposed to stresses, production of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the cells is enhanced. Such increase in cellular HSP production is considered to bring about tolerance against stress-induced cell damage. The exact role of the cellular HSPs remains unclear. In the present study, HSPs in the viable left ventricular myocardium were determined during the development of heart failure following coronary artery ligation (CAL). The rats after CAL showed symptoms of chronic heart failure (CHF) at the 8th week, but not at the 1st and 2nd weeks. Myocardial HSP27, which may bind to cytoskeletal protein, at the 1st, 2nd, and 8th weeks after CAL was approximately 180, 160, and 125% of the control, respectively. Myocardial HSP60, one of mitochondrial proteins, at the 8th week increased to 140% of the control, whereas those at the 1st and 2nd weeks did not change. Myocardial HSP72, an inducible form of HSP70 family, at the 1st week after CAL increased to 180% of the control, whereas that at the 2nd or 8th week was similar to control. Myocardial heat shock constitutive protein 73 (HSC73), a constitutively expressed form of HSP70 family, and HSP90, which may bind to steroid hormone receptor and actin fiber, of CAL rats did not alter throughout the experiment. These findings show that diverse changes in the production of myocardial HSPs occur during the development of heart failure. Only the increase in myocardial HSP60 production was associated with the development of CHF.     

Molecular identification and expression of heat shock cognate 70 (<Emphasis Type="Italic">HSC</Emphasis>70) in the pacific white shrimp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus vannamei</Emphasis>

Heat shock protein 70s (HSP70s) are fundamental chaperone proteins that are indispensable to most living organisms. In order to investigate the function of HSP70 and heat shock response in shrimp, a heat shock cognate (HSC70) gene of the white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), containing a 1959-bp open reading frame, was cloned and characterized. The amino acid sequence, 71.5 kDa of molecular weight, shares 80–99.6% homology with 12 diverse species’ HSP70s and HSC70s. In fact, some segments of the eukaryotic HSC70 sequence, such as ATP/GTP-binding site, cytoplasmic HSP70 C-terminal sequence, and GGMP/GAP repeats, are also found in the putative shrimp HSC70. Moreover, multitissue RT-PCR was performed to assay the basal expressions of HSC70 in the heart, gill, hepatopancreas, stomach, gut, and muscle. The results demonstrate that the basal expressions of HSC70 in theses organs are similar to that of β-actin. Furthermore, quantitative real-time experiments showed that HSC70 was upregulated in hepatopancreas (4.6-fold), stomach (5.9-fold), gut (2.6-fold), and muscle (3.5-fold) but not in the heart (1.7-fold) and gill (1.6-fold) after 2 h of heat shock. Nevertheless, the HSC70 was found to be highly expressed in the heart and gill following 6 h of heat shock. This suggests that HSC70 in white shrimp possess both short-term and long-term responses to heat shock stress, indicating this HSC70 may be a heat-dependent HSC70 member. Finally, we constructed an expression vector to generate HSC70 in Escherichia coli BL21, which displayed immune cross-reactivity with mouse HSP70 antibody. In conclusion, the identification and expression of the white shrimp HSC70 gene present useful data for studying the molecular mechanism of heat shock response and the effect of heat shock proteins in shrimps’ cytoprotection. Published in Russian in Molekulyarnaya Biologiya, 2008, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 265–274. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Increased expression of co-chaperone HOP with HSP90 and HSC70 and complex formation in human colonic carcinoma

Co-chaperone HOP (also called stress-inducible protein 1) is a co-chaperone that interacts with the cytosolic 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) and 90-kDa heat shock protein (HSP90) families using different tetratricopeptide repeat domains. HOP plays crucial roles in the productive folding of substrate proteins by controlling the chaperone activities of HSP70 and HSP90. Here, we examined the levels of HOP, HSC70 (cognate of HSP70, also called HSP73), and HSP90 in the tumor tissues from colon cancer patients, in comparison with the non-tumor tissues from the same patients. Expression level of HOP was significantly increased in the tumor tissues (68% of patients, n = 19). Levels of HSC70 and HSP90 were also increased in the tumor tissues (95% and 74% of patients, respectively), and the HOP level was highly correlated with those of HSP90 (r = 0.77, p < 0.001) and HSC70 (r = 0.68, p < 0.01). Immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that HOP complexes with HSC70 or HSP90 in the tumor tissues. These data are consistent with increased formation of co-chaperone complexes in colon tumor specimens compared to adjacent normal tissue and could reflect a role for HOP in this process.     

Muscle type-specific response of HSP60, HSP72, and HSC73 during recovery after elevation of muscle temperature.

An original method to induce heat stress was used to clarify the time course of changes in heat shock proteins (HSPs) in rat skeletal muscles during recovery after a single bout of heat stress. One hindlimb was inserted into a stainless steel can and directly heated by raising the air temperature inside the can via a flexible heater twisted around the steel can. Muscle temperature was increased gradually and maintained at 42 degrees C for 60 min. Core rectal and contralateral muscle temperatures were increased <1.5 degrees C during the heat stress. HSP60, HSP72, and heat shock cognate (HSC) 73 content in the slow soleus and fast plantaris in both limbs were determined immediately (0 h) and 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, or 60 h after heat stress. Within 0-4 h, all HSPs were approximately 1.5- to 2.2-fold higher in heat-stressed than contralateral soleus. Compared with the contralateral plantaris, the heat-stressed plantaris had a higher (1.5-fold) HSP60 content immediately and 2 h after heat stress and a higher (2.5- to 6.8-fold) HSP72 content between 24 and 48 h after heat stress. Plantaris HSC73 content was not affected by heat stress. This unique heat-stress method provides advantages over existing systems; muscle temperature can be controlled precisely during heating and the HSP response can be compared between muscles in heat-stressed and contralateral limbs of individual rats. Results show a differential response of HSPs in the soleus and plantaris during recovery after heat stress; soleus demonstrated a more rapid and broader HSP response to heat stress than plantaris.