Heat shock protein 32 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: effect of aging and inflammation.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of age and acute infection on the production of Hsp32 in human peripheral blood cells, using flow cytometry. Thirty-five controls and 31 patients with acute infection participated. We found that the age and inflammatory status correlated positively with Hsp32 levels in both heat shocked (HS) and non-HS monocytes and lymphocytes. In addition, the HS response of Hsp32 was different in these peripheral blood cells; whereas HS exerted an up-regulation in the levels of Hsp32 in monocytes, a significant decrease in Hsp32 levels was noticed for lymphocytes. We found significant relationships between circulating C-reactive protein as well as interleukin-6 and the levels of Hsp32 in cells. We conclude that Hsp32 is up-regulated in the elderly as well as in individuals with inflammation, and that the HS response of Hsp32 is different in monocytes as compared to lymphocytes.