Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Potential of Heat Shock Proteins in Schistosomiasis and Bladder Cancer: A Review

Abstract:: Schistosomiasis is a waterborne tropical disease caused by infection with parasitic worms of the Schistosoma genus. This causes significant morbidity in the Middle East, South America, Southeast Asia and, mostly, in sub-Saharan Africa. For over 30 decades, this disease has been on a gradual rise, claiming thousands of lives and disfiguring its sufferers. Currently, over 280 000 mortalities per annum are attributed to this disease, with about 207 million reported cases of infection worldwide. In addition to these overwhelming statistics, infection caused by S. haematobium has been reported to predispose its sufferers to cancer of the bladder. Bladder cancer is regarded as the most common type of cancer in the urinary system, with relatively high incidence, progression and mortality rates despite the efforts put into providing optimal treatment for the disease. Despite the diagnostic and treatment options already put into place, there is still a growing need to develop alternative strategies to combat these diseases. The high expression levels of a group of molecular chaperones, known as heat shock proteins, can be used as biomarkers of infection and can consequently play a role in the development of alternative treatment methods.

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The therapeutic potential of heat shock proteins in cardiomyopathies due to mutations in cardiac structural proteins

Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology ◽

10.1016/j.yjmcc.2010.09.022 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 904-907 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessica E. Rodríguez ◽

Monte S. Willis

Keyword(s):

Heat Shock ◽

Heat Shock Proteins ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Structural Proteins ◽

Shock Proteins

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The role and therapeutic potential of heat shock proteins in haemorrhagic stroke

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine ◽

10.1111/jcmm.14479 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (9) ◽

pp. 5846-5858 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anwen Shao ◽

Yunxiang Zhou ◽

Yihan Yao ◽

Wenhua Zhang ◽

Jianmin Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Shock ◽

Heat Shock Proteins ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Haemorrhagic Stroke ◽

Shock Proteins

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Cytokine function of heat shock proteins

AJP Cell Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpcell.00364.2003 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 286 (4) ◽

pp. C739-C744 ◽

Cited By ~ 193

Author(s):

Min-Fu Tsan ◽

Baochong Gao

Keyword(s):

Heat Shock ◽

Heat Shock Proteins ◽

Innate Immune System ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Heat Sensitivity ◽

Receptor Complex ◽

Shock Proteins ◽

Antigen Presenting ◽

Tlr4 Receptor

Extensive work in the last 10 years has suggested that heat shock proteins (HSPs) may be potent activators of the innate immune system. It has been reported that Hsp60, Hsp70, Hsp90, and gp96 are capable of inducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines by the monocyte-macrophage system and the activation and maturation of dendritic cells (antigen-presenting cells) in a manner similar to the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and bacterial lipoprotein, e.g., via CD14/Toll-like receptor2 (TLR2) and CD14/TLR4 receptor complex-mediated signal transduction pathways. However, recent evidence suggests that the reported cytokine effects of HSPs may be due to the contaminating LPS and LPS-associated molecules. The reasons for previous failure to recognize the contaminant(s) as being responsible for the reported HSP cytokine effects include failure to use highly purified, low-LPS preparations of HSPs; failure to recognize the heat sensitivity of LPS; and failure to consider contaminant(s) other than LPS. Thus it is essential that efforts should be directed to conclusively determine whether the reported HSP cytokine effects are due to HSPs or to contaminant(s) present in the HSP preparations before further exploring the implication and therapeutic potential of the putative cytokine function of HSPs.

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Role of Heat Shock Proteins (HSP70 and HSP90) in Viral Infection

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22179366 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (17) ◽

pp. 9366

Author(s):

Anna Lubkowska ◽

Waldemar Pluta ◽

Aleksandra Strońska ◽

Alicja Lalko

Keyword(s):

Heat Shock ◽

Heat Shock Proteins ◽

Viral Replication ◽

Viral Infection ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Biological Significance ◽

Hsp70 Family ◽

The Stability ◽

Shock Proteins

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a large group of chaperones found in most eukaryotes and bacteria. They are responsible for the correct protein folding, protection of the cell against stressors, presenting immune and inflammatory cytokines; furthermore, they are important factors in regulating cell differentiation, survival and death. Although the biological function of HSPs is to maintain cell homeostasis, some of them can be used by viruses both to fold their proteins and increase the chances of survival in unfavorable host conditions. Folding viral proteins as well as replicating many different viruses are carried out by, among others, proteins from the HSP70 and HSP90 families. In some cases, the HSP70 family proteins directly interact with viral polymerase to enhance viral replication or they can facilitate the formation of a viral replication complex and/or maintain the stability of complex proteins. It is known that HSP90 is important for the expression of viral genes at both the transcriptional and the translational levels. Both of these HSPs can form a complex with HSP90 and, consequently, facilitate the entry of the virus into the cell. Current studies have shown the biological significance of HSPs in the course of infection SARS-CoV-2. A comprehensive understanding of chaperone use during viral infection will provide new insight into viral replication mechanisms and therapeutic potential. The aim of this study is to describe the molecular basis of HSP70 and HSP90 participation in some viral infections and the potential use of these proteins in antiviral therapy.

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Therapeutic Potential of Tea Tree Oil for Tungiasis

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.4269/ajtmh.21-0427 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 105 (5) ◽

pp. 1157-1162

Author(s):

Solomon Abrha ◽

Wubshet Tesfaye ◽

Jackson Thomas

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Infections ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Tea Tree Oil ◽

Standard Drug ◽

Tea Tree ◽

Tunga Penetrans ◽

Pain And Suffering ◽

Sub Saharan

ABSTRACT. Tungiasis (sand flea disease) is a neglected tropical disease caused by penetration of female sand fleas, Tunga penetrans, into a person’s skin usually in their feet. The disease inflicts immense pain and suffering on millions of people, particularly children. The condition is most prevalent in Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, there is no standard drug treatment for tungiasis. The available treatment options are fairly limited and unrealistic to use in endemic areas; as a result, in desperation, the affected people do more harm to themselves by extracting the fleas with non-sterile instruments, further exposing themselves to secondary bacterial infections and/or transmission of diseases such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, or HIV. This highlights the urgent need for simpler, safer, and effective treatment options for tungiasis. Tea tree oil (TTO) has long been used as an antiseptic with extensive safety and efficacy data. The evidence on parasiticidal properties of TTO against ectoparasites such as head lice, mites, and fleas is also compelling. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current tungiasis treatment challenges in endemic settings and highlight the potential role of TTO in the treatment of tungiasis.

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