HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS AND ALCOHOL

In response to many metabolic disturbances and injuries,
the cells mount a stress response with the induction of a
variety of proteins, most notably the 70 kDa family of heat
shock proteins. Included in this family are hsp70 (the
inducible form), hsc70 (heat shock cognate, the constitutive
form) and grp78 (the constitutively expressed glucoseregulated
protein).
Alcohol induces injury
in diverse
tissues
and
induces the expression
of heat shock proteins
in different
cellular systems. The
induction of different
members of
the
hsp70 family reflects
specific cellular and molecular
aspects
of alcohol-induced toxicity.
This
chapter will cover
these
studies and the potential mechanisms by
which the
different
members of the hsp70 family may mediate the
pathophysiology
of organ damage by
alcohol.