Anti-heat-shock proteins 65 and 70 antibodies in patients with vascular diseases

Abstract

Introduction/Aim. Recent evidence suggests that the immune system plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis with involvement of both cellular and humoral mechanisms. Heat-shock proteins (Hsps) have been detected in atherosclerotic lesions of subjects with carotid and coronary artery stenoses. In addition anti-Hsp antibody levels were raised in these patients. The aim of this study was to examine the level of anti-Hsp65 and 70 antibodies in patients with different vascular diseases. Materials/MethodsA. questionnaire was designed for the subjects in the study, with documentation of clinical details. Patients with concomitant infection, malignancy, hepatorenal failure, or recent surgery were excluded and all groups were age-matched. Subject groups consisted of controls (n = 21), patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA, n = 20), stable claudication (SC, n = 19) and lower limb critical ischaemia (CI, n = 18). An ELISA was used to identify anti-Hsp65 and 70 antibodies in the sera in different dilutions. Graphs of Optical Density (OD) vs negative log dilution were plotted, the gradient of which was taken to be the Estimated Optical Density (EOD) for each subject (proportional to antibody level). Results. Anti-Hsp65 antibody levels were not found to be significantly different [Mann-Whitney, P= 0.8550 (AAA), 0.5430 (SC), 0.3200 (CI), respectively] from the control. In contrast, anti-Hsp70 antibody levels in patients with AAA, SC and CI were significantly (Mann-Whitney, P= 0.0008, 0.0127, 0.0037, respectively) higher than controls. In both cases no correlation was found between age and EOD (Spearman, Hsp65: R = 0.0087, P= 0.9393, Hsp7O: R= 0.1204, P= 0.1407). Conclusions. These data demonstrate no difference in anti-Hsp65 antibodies levels in different vascular conditions. There is, however, a strong correlation between anti-Hsp70 antibodies and different types of vascular diseases, suggesting that Hsp70 might be involved in the pathogenesis and propagation of atherosclerosis. Since the immune response to Hsps can be modulated, this may open new possibilities for therapeutic approaches.