Effects of heat shock and teprenone on ethanol-induced damage to cultured rabbit gastric mucosal cells.

We examined whether or not heat shock and teprenone (a gastric mucosal protective drug), through the induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs), protect cultured rabbit gastric mucosal cells from ethanol-induced damage. Cell viability was assessed by mitochondrial function and membrane permeability assays. Exposure of mucosal cells to 5% ethanol for 1h caused an about 50% reduction in viability. When the cells had been heated at 43 degrees C for 1 h, the cell damage caused by ethanol was significantly prevented. However, pretreatment with teprenone at 1-100 microM failed to prevent the ethanol-induced damage. Western blot analysis with an anti-HSP-72 antibody showed that HSP-72 was apparently induced by heat treatment, but not by teprenone. Both the cytoprotection and induction of HSP-72 on heat treatment were potently inhibited by cycloheximide and actinomycin D. These results demonstrate that, in rabbit gastric mucosal cells, the induction of HSPs is strongly associated with cytoprotection against ethanol-induced damage, but that teprenone has no effect on the cytoprotection or HSP induction.