153 Hsp60 as a biomarker for inflamed gut.

Abstract Heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) is a chaperone protein that plays a crucial role in protein folding and stabilization. It is an intracellular molecule, released from necrotic but not from apoptotic cells. Extracellular Hsp60 interacts with CD14 as a receptor (the same receptor used by LPS), CD40, and TLRs (TLR-4), which can induce pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. Membrane and secreted forms of Hsp60 have been reported for enteric infections, inflammatory bowel diseases, colitis, metastatic cancers, including colorectal cancer, and in cardiovascular disease. Hsp60-mediated activation of myosin light chain can destabilize epithelial junctional protein, leading to increased gut permeability and intestinal disorder. I will discuss the effects of enteric infection and chemically induced epithelial damage, as well as the consequent expression of Hsp60, a potential biomarker for gut health.