热休克蛋白-70在人类糖尿病性白内障晶状体上皮细胞中的表达及意义

目的 :探讨热休克蛋白 70在人类糖性白内障晶状体上皮细胞中的表达及意义。方法 :采用链霉菌抗生物素蛋白碱性磷酸酶 (streptavidin alkalinephosphatase ,S P)免疫组化技术检测热休克蛋白 70 (heatshockprotin 70 ,HSP 70 )在人类糖性白内障 (2 5例 )和正常晶状体 (7例 )上皮细胞中的表达情况。结果 :热休克蛋白 70在人类糖性白内障晶状体上皮中全部为阳性表达 ,而在正常晶状体上皮细胞中全部为阴性表达 ,二者差异有显著性 (χ2 =2 6 .4 2 ,P <0 .0 1)。结论 :热休克蛋白 70在人类糖尿病性白内障发生、发展中起重要作用。

Heat shock protein 70 antisense oligonucleotide inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901

AIM: Heat shock protein (HSP)70 is over-expressed in human gastric cancer and plays an important role in the progression of this cancer. We investigated the effects of antisense HSP70 oligomer on human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901, and its potential role in gene therapy for this cancer.METHODS: Human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 was treated in vitro with various concentrations of antisense HSP70 oligonucleotides at different intervals. Growth inhibition was determined as percentage by trypan blue dye exclusion test. Extracted DNA was electrophoresed on agarose gel, and distribution of cell cycle and kinetics of apoptosis induction were analyzed by propidium iodide DNA incorporation using flow cytometry, which was also used to detect the effects of antisense oligomer pretreatment on the subsequent apoptosis induced by heat shock in SGC-7901 cells. Proteins were extracted for simultaneous measurement of HSP70 expression level by SDS-PAGE Western blotting.RESULTS: The number of viable cells decreased in a doseand time-dependent manner, and ladder-like patterns of DNA fragments were observed in SGC-7901 cells treated with antisense HSP70 oligomers at a concentration of 10 μmol/L for 48 h or 8 μmol/L for 72 h, which were consistent with inter-nucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Flow cytometric analysis showed a dose- and time-dependent increase in apoptotic rate by HSP70 antisense oligomers. This response was accompanied with a decrease in the percentage of cells in the G1 and S phases of the cell cycle, suggesting inhibition of cell proliferation. In addition, flow cytometry also showed that pretreatment of SGC-7901 cells with HSP70 antisense oligomers enhanced the subsequent apoptosis induced by heat shock treatment. Western blotting demonstrated that HSP70 antisense oligomers inhibited HSP70 expression, which preceded apoptosis, and HSP70 was undetectable at the concentration of 10 μmol/L for 48 h or 8 μmol/L for 72 h.CONCLUSION: Antisense HSP70 oligomers can abrogate HSP70 expression in SGC-7901 cells, which may in turn induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation, conversely suggesting that HSP70 is required for the proliferation and survival of human gastric cancer cells under normal conditions.

Correlation between clinicopathology and expression of heat shock protein 70 and glucose-regulated protein 94 in human colonic adenocarcinoma

AIM: To investigate the correlation between clinicopathology and expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and glucose-regulated protein 94 (grp94) in human colonic carcinoma. METHODS: The expression of HSP70 and grp94 was studied in 80 human colonic cancers with or without metastasis as well as in their adjacent mucous membrane by way of immunohistochemistry and pathology photograph analysis. RESULTS: The expression of HSP70 and grp94 was significantly higher in cancer than that in adjacent mucous membrane (92.5%, 85.0% vs 56.3%, 42.5%, P<0.01). HSP70 and grp94 expressed higher in moderately- and poorly-differentiated colonic cancers than that in their adjacent tissues (93.7%, 87.5%; 100%, 90% vs56.3%, 42.5%;P<0.01). Dukes C and D stages of colonic cancers showed higher positive rates than Dukes A and B stage groups (97.1%, 91.2%; 100%, 90.9%; vs 80%, 70%; 78.6%, 71.4%; P<0.05). There were definite differences in HSP70 and grp94 expression between metastasis groups and non-metastasis groups (100% vs 75%, 100% CONCLUSION: The HSP70 and grp94 expression rates in colonic cancer groups are significantly higher than that in their adjacent mucous membrane. The HSP70 and grp94 expression in poorly-differentiated colonic cancers with metastasis is significantly higher than well-differentiated cancers without metastasis. The overexpression of HSP70 and grp94 can be used as diagnostic or prognostic markers for colonic cancer.

Purification of heat shock protein 70-associated tumor peptides and their antitumor immunity to hepatoma in mice

AIM:To purify the heat shock protein (HSP) 70-associated tumor peptides and to observe its non-MHC-I molecule restrictive antitumor effect.METHODS:By ConA-sepharose affinity chromatography,ADP-agarose affinity chromatography, and DEAE anion exchange chromatography, we were able to purify HSP70-associated peptides from mouse hepatoma (HCaF) cells treated in heat shock at 42℃. Specific active immunization and adoptive cellular immunization assay were adopted to observe the immunoprotective effect elicited by HSP70-associated peptide complexes isolated from HcaF.RESULTS: The finally purified HSP-associated peptides had a very high purity and specificity found by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Mice immunized with HSP70-associated peptide complexes purified from HCaF cells were protected from HCaF living cell challenge. This effect was dose dependent.Adoptive immunization of immune spleen cells of mice immunized with HSP70-associated peptide complexes could elicit immunity against HCaF challenge, and the tumor-free mice could resist repeated challenges. This effect could be continuously enhanced by repeated challenge with HCaF living cells. The tumor-free mice could tolerate the challenge for as high as 1×10^7 HCaF cells. The mice immunized once with spleen cells pulsed with HSP70-associated peptide complexes in vitro could also result in a certain adoptive immunity against HCaF.CONCLUSION:High purity and specificity of HSP70-associated peptides could be achieved from tumor cells by the low-pressure affinity chromatography method used in this study. HSP70-associated peptide complexes derived from the HCaF can elicit non-MHC-I molecule restrictive immunoprotective effect against HCaF.This effect can be transferred by adoptive immunization to mice and enhanced by repeated challenge with HCaF live cells.

Expression and significance of heat shock protein 70 and glucose-regulated protein 94 in human esophageal carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the expression and significance of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and glucose-regulated protein 94 (grp94) in human esophageai carcinoma and adjacent normal tissues. METHODS: The expression of HSP70 and grp94 in 78 human esophageai cancer and adjacent normal tissues was studied by immunohistochemistry and pathology photograph analysis. RESULTS: Both esophageai cancer and adjacent normal tissues could express HSP70 and grp94. Of the 78 cases of esophageai carcinoma, 95.0%(72/78) showed positive HSP70, mainly stained in nuclei, while grp94 was mainly stained in cell plasma, and the positive rate was 71.8% (56/78).There was a significant difference in the expression of HSP70 and grp94 between esophageai cancer and adjacent normal tissues (P<0.01). Compared with adjacent normal tissues, there was a significant difference between differential types and HSP70 expression (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: HSP70 and grp94 express differently in cell plasma and nuclei. The expression intensity of HSP70 is related to the differentiation of esophageai carcinoma.

Co-expression of heat shock protein 70 and glucose-regulated protein 94 in human gastric carcinoma cell line BGC-823

AIM:To investigate the co-expression and significance of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and glucose-regulated protein 94 (grp94) in human gastric carcinoma cell line BGC-823. METHODS: The expression and localization of HSP70 and grp94 in human gastric carcinoma cell line BGC-823 were determined by immunocytochemistry and indirect immunofluorescence cytochemical staining. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the correlation between expression of HSP70, grp94 and cell cycle in BGC-823 cell line. RESULTS: Gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 expressed high level of HSP70 and grp94. The positive rate of HSP70 and grp94 was 84.9±4.94% and 79.6±5.16%, respectively. Both of them were stained in cell plasma. There was a significant difference compared with control group (1.9±0.94%, P<0.01). During the cell cycle, HSP70 and grp94 were continuously expressed in BGC-823. CONCLUSION: HSP70 and grp94 are highly expressed in human gastric carcinoma BGC-823 cells through the whole cell cycle. There is no relationship between expression of HSP70, grp94 and cell cycle.

Heat shock protein 70 chaperoned alpha-fetoprotein in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402

AIM: To investigate the interaction between heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line BEL7402.METHODS: The expression and localization of HSP70 and AFP in human HCC cell line BEL-7402 were determined by immunocytochemistry and indirect immunofluorescence cytochemical staining. The interaction between HSP70 and AFP in HCC cells was analyzed by immunoprecipitation and Western blot.RESULTS: Immunocytochemical staining detection showed that HCC cell BEL-7402 expressed a high level of HSP70 and AFP synchronously. Both were stained in cell plasma.AFP existed in the immunoprecipitate of anti-HSP70 mAb,while there was HSP70 in the immunoprecipitate of antiAFP mAb.CONCLUSION: HSP70 chaperones AFP in human HCCcell BEL-7402. The interaction between HSP70 and AFP in human HCC cell can be a new route to study the pathogenesis and immunotherapy of HCC.

Acclimation-dependent expression of heat shock protein 70 in Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) and its acute response to thermal exposure

Heat shock protein 70 （Hsp70） is one important member of heat shock protein （Hsp） family that is responsible for various stresses, especially thermal stress. Here we examined the response of Hsp70 gene to both chronic and acute thermal exposure in Pacific abalone （Haliotis discus hannai Ino）. For the chronic exposure, abalones were maintained at 8, 12, 20, and 30∩ for four months and their mRNA levels were measured. The highest mRNA level of Hsp70 gene relative to actin gene was detected in the 30~C-acclimated group, followed by the 8~C-acclimated group and then the 12~C- and 20~C-acclimated groups. After the long-term acclimation, gills from each of the above acclimation groups were dissected and exposed to different temperatures between 8~C and 38~C for 30 min. Hsp70 expression in gills acclimated to different temperatures responded differentially to the same temperature exposure. The incubation temperature that induced maximum Hsp70 mRNA expression was higher in the higher temperature acclimation groups than lower temperature groups. Pacific abalones could alter the expression pattern of Hsp70 gene according to environmental thermal conditions, through which they deal with the stress of thermal variations.

The Effects of Rapid Temperature Changes on HK,PK and HSP70 of Litopenaeus vannamei in Different Seasons

Activities of hexokinase(HK),pyruvate kinase(PK) and levels of HSP70 were measured to evaluate the response of Litopenaeus vannamei to rapid temperature changes under controlled laboratory conditions.Shrimps were subjected to a quick temperature change from 27℃ to 17℃ for the summer case(Cold temperature treatment),or from 17℃ to 27℃ for the winter case(Warm temperature treatment).After 0.5,1,3,6,12,24,48,and 72 h of exposure time,shrimps were sampled and prepared for further analysis.The results showed that the effect of acute temperature changes on activities of HK was significant.Patterns of variations of the two glycolytic enzymes suggested that enzymes in the glycolysis cycle could adjust their activities to meet the acute temperature change.The HSP70 level increased in both cold and warm temperature treatments,suggesting that the rapid temperature changes activated the process of body's self-protection.But the difference in expression peak of HSP70 might be related to the different body size and the higher thermal sensitivity to temperature increase than to temperature decrease of L.vannamei.

Increased heat shock protein 70 expression in the pancreas of rats with endotoxic shock

AIM： To investigate the ultra-structural changes and heat shock protein 70 （HSP70） expression in the pancreas of rats with endotoxic shock and to detect their possible relationship. METHODS： A total of 33 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups： control group （given normal saline）, small dose lipopolysaccharide （LPS） group （given LPS 5 mg/kg） and large dose LPS group （given LPS 10 mg/kg）. Pancreas was explanted to detect the ultrastructural changes by TEM and the HSP70 expression by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS： Rats given small doses of LPS showed swelling and loss of mitochondrial cristae of acinar cells and increased number of autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm of acinar cells. Rats given large doses of LPS showed swelling, vacuolization, and obvious myeloid changes of mitochondrial cristae of acinar cells, increased number of autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm of acinar cells. HSPT0 expression was increased compared to the control group （P〈0.05）. CONCLUSION： Small doses of LPS may induce stronger expression of HSP70, promote autophagocytosis and ameliorate ultra-structural injuries.

Ischemic preconditioning inhibits development of edematous cerulein-induced pancreatitis: Involvement of cyclooxygenases and heat shock protein 70

AIM： To determine whether ischemic preconditioning （IP） affects the development of edematous cerulein-induced pancreatitis and to assess the role of cyclooxygenase-1 （COX-l）, COX-2, and heat shock protein 70 （HSP 70） in this process. METHODS： In male Wistar rats, IP was performed by damping of celiac artery （twice for 5 min at 5-min intervals）. Thirty minutes after IP or sham operation, acute pancreatitis was induced by cerulein. Activity of COX-1 or COX-2 was inhibited by resverabol or rofecoxib, respectively （10 rng/kg）. RESULTS： IP significantly reduced pancreatic damage in cerulein-induced pancreatitis as demonstrated by the improvement of pancreas histology, reduction in serum lipase and poly-C ribonuclease activity, and serum concentration of pro-inflammatory interleukin （IL）-1β. Also, IP attenuated the pancreatitis-evoked fall in pancreatic blood flow and pancreatic DNA synthesis. Serum level of anti-inflammatory IL-10 was not affected by IP. Cerulein-induced pancreatitis and IP increased the content of HSP 70 in the pancreas. Maximal increase in HSP 70 was observed when IP was combined with cerulein-induced pancreatitis. Inhibition of COXs, especially COX-2, reduced the protective effect of IP in edematous pancreatitis. CONCLUSION： Our results indicate that IP reducespancreatic damage in cerulein-induced pancreatitis and this effect, at least in part, depends on the activity of COXs and pancreatic production of HSP 70.

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of recombinant M2e.Hsp70c(Hsp70_(359–610)) fusion protein against influenza virus infection in mice

New strategies in vaccine development are urgently needed to combat emerging influenza viruses and to reduce the risk of pandemic disease surfacing. Being conserved, the M2 e protein, is a potential candidate for universal vaccine development against influenza A viruses. Mycobacterium tuberculosis Hsp70(mHsp70) is known to cultivate the function of immunogenic antigen-presenting cells, stimulate a strong cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL) response, and stop the induction of tolerance. Thus, in this study, a recombinant protein from the extracellular domain of influenza A virus matrix protein 2(M2e), was fused to the C-terminus of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Hsp70(Hsp70c), to generate a vaccine candidate. Humoral immune responses, IFN-γ-producing lymphocyte, and strong CTL activity were all induced to confirm the immunogenicity of M2 e.Hsp70c(Hsp70359–610). And challenge tests showed protection against H1N1 and H9N2 strains in vaccinated groups. Finally these results demonstrates M2 e.Hsp70c fusion protein can be a candidate for a universal influenza A vaccine.

Histological change and heat shock protein 70 expression in different tissues of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in response to elevated temperature

High temperature influences the homeostasis of fish. We investigated the effects of elevated temperature on tissues of Japanese flounder （Paralichthys olivaceus） by analyzing the histology and heat shock protein 70 （hsp70） expression of fish reared in warm conditions. In this study, temperature was increased at 1±0.5℃/day starting at 24±0.5℃, and was kept at that temperature for 5 days before the next rise. After raising temperature at the rate up to 32±0.5℃, tissue samples from midgut, spleen, stomach, liver, muscle, gill, heart, trunk kidney and brain were collected for histological analysis and mRNA assay. Almost all the tissues showed changes in morphological structure and hsp70 level at 32±0.5℃. Histological assessment of the tissues indicated that the gill had the most serious damage, including highly severe epithelial lifting and edema, curved tips and hyperemia at the ending of the lamellars, desquamation and necrosis. The next most severe damage was found in liver and kidney. The hsp70 levels in all the tissues first increased and then decreased. The gut, stomach, muscle, heart, and brain had the highest expressions in 6 h, whereas the spleen, liver, gill and kidney had the highest expressions in 2 h. Therefore, tissues with the most significant lesions （especially gill and liver） responded much earlier （2 h） in hsp70 expression than other tissues, and these tissues demonstrated the most marked histological disruption and elevated mRNA levels, making them ideal candidates for further studies on the thermal physiology of this species.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON MOXIBUSTION AT ZUSANLI(ST 36) AND LIANGMEN (ST 21) INDUCING HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 70 (HSP70) EXPRESSION TO RESIST OXIDATIVE INJURY OF GASTRIC MUCOSA

To observe effect of moxibustion at Zusanli （足三里 ST 36） and Liangmen （梁门 ST 21 ） on expression of heat shock protein 70 （HSP70） in gastric mucosa of the rat of stress ulcer （SU） to explore the mechanism of moxibustion in resisting oxidative injury of the gastric mucosa. Methods： Sixty SD rats were evenly randomized into 4 groups, a blank group, a model group, an acupoint moxibustion group and a non-acupoint moxibustion group. Water restraint stress （WRS） method was used to make stress gastric ulcer rat model. The ulcerative index （Ul） of gastric mucosa was evaluated by using GUTH method, the gastric mu- cosa blood flux （GMBF） was detected by a laser Doppler bloodflow monitor, and HSP70 expression and malondialdehyde （MDA） content in the gastric mucosa were determined respectively with immunohistochemical and thiobarbiturate methods. Results： Moxibustion at Zusanli （ST 36） and Liangmen （ST 21 ） significantly de- creased Ul, up-regulated HSP70 expression, increased GMBF, and decreased MDA content in the gastric mucosa in the rat of stress gastric ulcer, with significant differences as compared with the model group and the non-acupoint moxibustion group （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01 ）. Conclusion： Moxibustion at Zusanli （ST 36） and Liangmen （ST 21 ） can induce high expression of HSP70 and decrease MDA content in the gastric mucosa, so as to resist oxidative injury, with relative acupoint specificity.

Effects of salinity fluctuation amplitudes on growth,osmolarity,Na^+-K^+-ATPase activity and Hsp70 of juvenile Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis Osbeck

The effects of various salinity fluctuation amplitudes （2, 4, 6 and 8） on the growth, osmolarity, Na＋-K＋-ATPase activity and Hsp70 of juvenile Fenneropenaeus chinensis cultured in seawater with a salinity of 20 were studied. The results show that weight gain in the salinity fluctuation treatments was better than that in control; in particular, the weight gain of treatments S4 and SO, at 231.8% and 196.3%, respectively, was significantly different （P〈0.05）. The hemolymph osmolarity of treatments SO, S2, S4, S6 and S8 was 635.4, 630.8, 623.6, 614.4 and 600.3 mOsm/kg, respectively, and decreased with increasing salinity fluctuation amplitude. The level of Na＋-K＋-ATPase activity in gills ofE chinensis was higher than that in hepatopancreas, but there were no significant differences among all treatments, either in gills or hepatopancreas （P〉0.05）. The relative level of Hsp70 in treatment $4 was 48.4% and 40.4% higher than control in muscle and eyestalks, respectively, with the highest values being recorded under a salinity fluctuation amplitude of 4.

The polymorphism of heat shock protein 70 genes in Chinese Han population in Fujian province

To understand the polymorphism of the heat shock protein 70 （HSPTO） genes in Chinese Han population and to explore the co-relations between HSP70 polymorphism and disease, three polymorphic loci of HSP70 genes in 127 healthy Chinese Han population in Fujian province were analyzed by PCR and restriction enzyme analysis, and the genotypes and allele frequencies of HSPTO in different populations from various area were compared. It was found that the proportions of HSPTO-1 genotypes GG, GC and CC among Chinese Han population in Fujian province were 55.1%, 40.2% and 4.7% respectively, while those of HSP70-2 genotypes AA, AG and GG were 44.1%, 48.8 % and 6.9% respectively, and those of HSP70-hom genotypes TF, TC and CC were 59.8%, 37.0% and 3.2% respectively. The allele frequencies of G and C in HSP70-1 were 75.2% and 24.8% ; those of A and G in HSP70-2 were 68.5% and 31.5% and those ofT and C in HSP70-hom were 78.3% and 21.7% respectively. The distribution of the HSPTO-1 polymorphisms in Chinese Han population was almost the same as those in Japanese and Mexican populations, but it was rather different from those of American and Spanish populations with a significant differences. Meanwhile, the frequency of GG homozygote in HSPTO- 1 was signifi- cantly higher than those in American and Spanish populations. No significant difference was found in the distribution of HSPTO-2 polymorphism between Chinese and Japanese populations, in which the differences among American, Mexican and Spanish populations were quite obvious. The frequency of AA homozygote in HSPTO-2 was significantly higher than those in Mexican, American and Spanish populations, while, the distribution of HSPTO-hom genotype and allele frequency in Chinese Han population was almost just the same as those in Japanese and Mexican populations. Furthermore, it was also found that the genotype distribution and allele frequencies of the HSPTO genes in Han population of Fujian province were almost the same as those in Han population in Taiwan, but they were different in certain loci from those of Han population in Wuhan area. It is evident that the distribution of HSPTO gene polymorphisms among Chinese Han population are different from other regions in the world.

Detection of the expression of heat shock protein 70 using quantum dots as fluorescence probe in human renal carcinoma

Objective： To detect the expression of heat shock protein 70 （HSP70） in human renal carcinoma tissues and cultured ACHN cells by using quantum dots-tagged fluorescence technology and its significance. Methods： Using the fluorescence property of quantum dots, indirect immunofluorescence method and immunocytochemical method were used to detect the expression of HSP70 tagged by quantum dots in renal carcinoma tissues and ACHN cells cultured in vitro. Results： Confocal fluorescence microscopy showed that HSP70 were significantly expressed in renal carcinoma tissues and ACHN cells cultured in vitro characterized by homogeneous distribution of intensive salmon pink fluorescence. Compared with FITC tagging, quantum dots tagged fluorescence had good specificity and signal to background. There was no notable quenching after excitation by quantum dots for 30 rain. Conclusion： Quantum dots can be used to label subcellular proteins and have obvious advantages compared with the traditional fluorescence methods. The quantum dots-tagged fluorescence could be applied as a new method for clinical labeling detection.

The Role of Heat Shock Protein 70, IgE and MMP-9 in Detecting Early Minor Myocardial Damage and Evaluating the Efficacy of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting （CABG）

The objective of this research was to identify levels of heat shock protein 70 （Hsp 70）, total immunoglobulin E （IgE） and matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） before and after coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG） surgery. Hsp 70, IgE, MMP-9, creatine phosphokinase-MB （CPK-MB）, and lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） levels were measured in normal subjects （n = 20）, and in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris who were referred for elective CABG, before and after performing CABG-surgery （n = 20）. Compared with normal subjects, increased Hsp 70 and IgE levels, unchanged MMP-9 level, and activities of CPK-MB and LDH were found in the pre-operative patient group. Hsp 70 and IgE levels in the post-operative period were significantly reduced when compared to pre-operative period. Hsp 70 and IgE might be used as markers for detection of early minor myocardial damage, and coronary insufficiency with less overt damage than myocardial infarction, as significant changes in their levels appear before occurrence of in any changes in the levels of MMP-9, CPK-MB and LDH. Besides, Hsp 70, and IgE returning to the normal levels after CABG surgery, suggest that they could be helpful to evaluate the effect of CABG surgery.

Molecular Studies on Heat Shock Protein 70 Gene （Hsp70） Using ClustalW Multiple Sequence Alignment Analysis

Degenerate primers are particularly useful in amplifying homologous genes from different organisms. This paper describes a method for designing degenerate primers for a given multiple alignment of DNA sequences of Hsp70 gene family using ClustalW algorithm. The authors used an in silico approach to find a homology between more than one accession numbers of DNA sequences, X67711.2 was for Oryza sativa Hsp70, AY372071.1 was for Nicotiana tabacum Hsp70 and L41253.2 was for Lycopersicon esculentum Hsc70. The three accession numbers which were retrieved by the BLASTn program depend on their expected value （E-value）. Multiple sequence alignment was performed by ClustalW algorithm to produce a conserved blocks and determine the consensus region which had been used to produce the forward and reverse primer by the primer select module of DNAStar Lasergene V7 and In-Silco PCR module of FASTPCR program ver.4.0.8 was performed to detect the melting temperatures （Tm） and predict the PCR product size, The results of designed degenerate primer showed that there was a homology found between the designed primers and the DNA templates for the three accession numbers with at least 80% identity. The result of degenerate PCR showed that the three bands of the amplified PCR products of the three accession numbers were detected at the same molecular weight of marker （400 bp） with a difference about 15 pb compared to the in silco PCR product （385 pb）. In conclusion, this study focused on the importance of using the clustalW algorithm for designing the degenerate primer.

ACUPUNCTURE-MOXIBUSTION, HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 70 AND CYTOPROTECTION

Pleat shock protein 70 （HSP70） is a kind of non-specific cytoprotective protein, and its generation can be induced by acupuncture and moxibustion. In the present paper, the authors review the protective actions of HSP70 on the heart, gastric mucosa, liver, brain tissues, kidney, etc., and the relationship among acupuncture/moxibustion, heat shock protein and the cytoprotective actions. It is worth studying the cytoprotective effect of acupuncture and moxibustion by way of the resultant generation of HSP70 in the organism.