AIM:To investigate the value of chaperonin containing TCP1,subunit 3(CCT3) to predict the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and determine its function in HCC progression.METHODS:CCT3 expression ...AIM:To investigate the value of chaperonin containing TCP1,subunit 3(CCT3) to predict the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and determine its function in HCC progression.METHODS:CCT3 expression levels were examined in human non-cancerous liver tissues and a variety of HCC cell lines by quantitative real-time PCR and immunoblotting.CCT3 expression was suppressed by small interfering RNA.The effects of reducing CCT3 expression in HCC cells were tested.The3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay,cell counting experiment,cell cycle assay,apoptosis assay and invasion assay were employed to evaluate cell functions in vitro.Immunohistochemistry was performed on HCC specimens.In addition,CCT3 expression in HCC specimens was also assessed at the protein and mRNA level.Associations between clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis were analyzed,along with the possible mechanisms involved in CCT3's function in HCC progression.RESULTS:The expression levels of CCT3 mRNA and protein were upregulated in HCC cell lines in contrast to adjacent non-cancerous tissues.Reducing CCT3 expression not only suppressed cell proliferation in cell counts,MTT assay,cell cycle assay and induced cell apoptosis(P < 0.05 vs negative control),but also inhibited the tumor cell invasion capacity in vitro {P< 0.01 vs negative control).Overexpression of CCT3 in the nuclei of cancer cells in HCC specimens(58of 104 patients,55.8%) was associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients(3-year survival rate,55.5%vs 84.2%,P = 0.020) after hepatectomy.Mechanistic analyses showed that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) activation was decreased even when stimulated by interleukin-6 after knocking down CCT3 in the HepG2 cell line.CONCLUSION:Overexpression of CCT3 in the nuclei of cancerous cells is associated with HCC progression.CCT3 may be a target that affects the activation of STAT3 in HCC.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the changes of chaperonin60 （Cpn60） and pancreatic enzymes in pancreatic acinar cells, and to explore their roles in the development of experimental diabetes and acute pancreatitis （AP）. METH...AIM： To investigate the changes of chaperonin60 （Cpn60） and pancreatic enzymes in pancreatic acinar cells, and to explore their roles in the development of experimental diabetes and acute pancreatitis （AP）. METHODS： Two different pathological models were replicated in Sprague-Dawley rats： streptozotocininduced diabetes and sodium deoxycholate-induced AP. The contents of Cpn60 and pancreatic enzymes in different compartments of the acinar cells were measured by quantitative immunoo/tochemistry. RESULTS： The levels of Cpn60 significanUy increased in diabetes, but decreased in AP, especially in the zymogen granules of the pancreatic acinar cells. The elevation of Cpn60 was accompanied with the increased levels of pancreatic lipase and chymotrypsinogen in diabetes. However, a decreased Cpn60 level was accompanied by high levels of lipase and chymotrypsinogen in AP. The amylase level was markedly reduced in both the pathological conditions. CONCLUSION： The equilibrium between Cpn60 and pancreaUc enzymes in the acinar cells breaks in AP, and Cpn60 content decreases, suggesting an insufficient chaperone capacity. This may promote the aggregation and autoactivation of the premature enzymes in the pancreatic acinar cells and play roles in the development of AR展开更多
The cytosolic chaperonin T-complex protein 1-ring complex(TRiC)or chaperonin containing T-complex protein 1(CCT)is essential in de novo folding of approximately 10%of the eukaryotic,newly translated polypeptides as we...The cytosolic chaperonin T-complex protein 1-ring complex(TRiC)or chaperonin containing T-complex protein 1(CCT)is essential in de novo folding of approximately 10%of the eukaryotic,newly translated polypeptides as well as misfolded proteins.There is a close link between the TRiC/CCT cytosolic chaperonin and neurodegenerative diseases(Lopez et al.,2015).A lot of research suggests that CCT plays neuroprotective roles in neurodegenerative diseases including Huntington’s disease(Lopez et al.,2015).Either overexpression of a single or all eight subunits(CCT1-8)or treatment of the substrate-binding apical domain of yeast CCT1(ApiCCT1)prevented mutant Huntingtin aggregation and improved cellular and neuronal functions(Zhao et al.,2016).Importantly,our recent study has demonstrated that both CCT and ApiCCT could reduce mutant Huntingtin level and enhance both anterograde and retrograde axonal transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.These results led to restoration of the trophic status of striatal neurons from a bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease(Zhao et al.,2016).Axonal transport is regulated by many factors including microtubule-associated protein tau,which promotes tubulin polymerization and stabilizes microtubules.Impaired interaction between tau and microtubules plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of multiple neurodegenerative diseases(Wang and Mandelkow,2016).Interestingly,tau phosphorylation is also observed in brains of several Huntington’s disease mouse models and Huntington’s disease patients(Gratuze et al.,2016).In a recent study,we explored if CCT subunit has any effect on axonal transport in a tau-dependent pathway(Chen et al.,2018b).We focused on the retrograde axonal transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor,as neurotrophic factor-mediated signaling in the form of signaling endosome is essential in both the developing and the mature nervous system and dysregulation of trafficking of neurotrophic factors is tightly linked to disorders of the nervous system(Chen et al.,2018a).We found that the expression of a single CCT subunit(CCT5)significantly promoted retrograde axonal transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in primary cortical neurons.Mechanically,CCT regulated the level of cyclin-dependent kinase 5(CDK5)/p35/p25 and,subsequently contributed to CCT-induced tau phosphorylation,which induced detachment of tau from microtubules(Chen et al.,2018b)(Figure 1).展开更多
The Group II chaperonin from Thermoplasma acidophilum was added to the in vitro amyloid fibrillation reaction of yeast Sup35NM protein to assess its effects. By measuring the formation of Sup35NM fibrils in real time ...The Group II chaperonin from Thermoplasma acidophilum was added to the in vitro amyloid fibrillation reaction of yeast Sup35NM protein to assess its effects. By measuring the formation of Sup35NM fibrils in real time using the fluorescent dye Thioflavin T, we found that the addition of T. acidophilum-cpn α16, α1, and β1 proteins suppressed fibril formation. Addition of a 0.1 molar-equivalent T. acidophilum-cpn α16 relative to Sup35NM prolonged the initial lag-time of fibril formation and decreased the rate of fibril extension. Addition of 1 or 3 molar-equivalents of T. acidophilum-cpn monomers also produced a similar effect. Delayed addition of these chaperonins after the initial lag phase did not suppress fibril formation. Interestingly, these effects were also observed upon adding only the apical domain segments of α and β-subunits, and we also found that deletion of the helical protrusion in the apical domain of these segments led to an abolishment of the suppression effects. A synthetic peptide whose sequence corresponded to the helical protrusion also displayed a suppression effect, which indicated that archaeal group II chaperonin binds to Sup35NM through the helical protrusion of the apical domain. These findings suggest that group II chaperonin might be actively involved in suppressing amyloid fibril formation, in addition to acting as a protein folding assistant.展开更多
Cytosolic chaperonin CCT (also known as TRiC) is a hetero-oligomeric cage-like molecular chaperone that assists in protein folding by ATPase cycle-dependent conformational changes. However, role of the nucleo-tide bin...Cytosolic chaperonin CCT (also known as TRiC) is a hetero-oligomeric cage-like molecular chaperone that assists in protein folding by ATPase cycle-dependent conformational changes. However, role of the nucleo-tide binding and hydrolysis in CCT-assisted protein folding is still poorly understood. We purified CCT by using ATP-Sepharose and other columns, and found that CCT possesses ability to hydrolyze GTP, with an activity level very similar to the ATPase activity. CCT was more resistant to proteinase K treatment in the presence of GTP or ATP. These results suggest that the GTPase activity of CCT may play a role in chaperone-assisted protein folding.展开更多
The individual roles of three chloroplast CPN60 protomers （CPN60α, CPN60β1, and CPN60β2） and whether and how they are assembled into functional chaperonin complexes are investigated in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. ...The individual roles of three chloroplast CPN60 protomers （CPN60α, CPN60β1, and CPN60β2） and whether and how they are assembled into functional chaperonin complexes are investigated in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Protein complexes containing all three potential subunits were identified in Chlamydomonas, and their co-expression in Escherichia coil yielded a homogeneous population of oligomers containing all three subunits （CPN60α1β11β2）, with a molecular weight consistent with a tetradecameric structure. While homo-oligomers of CPN60β could form, they were dramatically reduced when CPN60α was present and homo-oligomers of CPN60β2 were readily changed into hetero-oligomers in the presence of ATP and other protomers. ATP hydrolysis caused CPN60 oligomers to disassemble and drove the purified protomers to reconstitute oligomers in vitro, suggesting that the dynamic nature of CPN60 oligomers is dependent on ATP. Only hetero-oligomeric CPN60α1β1β2, containing CPN60α, CPN60β1, and CPN60β2 subunits in a 5：6：3 ratio, cooperated functionally with GroES. The combination of CPN60α and CPN60β subunits, but not the individual subunits alone, complemented GroEL function in E. coil with subunit recognition specificity. Down-regulation of the CPN60α subunit in Chlamydomonas resulted in a slow growth defect and an inability to grow autotrophically, indicating the essential role of CPN60α in vivo.展开更多
Chaperonins are known to facilitate the productive folding of numerous misfolded proteins. Despite their established importance, the mechanism of chaperonin-assisted protein folding remains unknown. In the present art...Chaperonins are known to facilitate the productive folding of numerous misfolded proteins. Despite their established importance, the mechanism of chaperonin-assisted protein folding remains unknown. In the present article, all-atom explicit solvent molecular dynamics （MD） simulations have been performed for the first time on rhodanese folding in a series of cavity-size and cavity-charge chaperonin mutants. A compromise between stability and flexibility of chaperonin structure during the substrate folding has been observed and the key factors affecting this dynamic process are discussed.展开更多
It remains uncovered yet how the common gastric pathogen,Helicobacter pylori,survives through the acidic barrier and the immune response simultaneously in the stomach.Herein we report a unique GroES chaperonin that ef...It remains uncovered yet how the common gastric pathogen,Helicobacter pylori,survives through the acidic barrier and the immune response simultaneously in the stomach.Herein we report a unique GroES chaperonin that effectively inactivates Helicobacter pylori urease in Escherichia coli model.Such a function depends on the quaternary structure as well as the metal binding at the C terminus.Surprisingly,the C-terminal metal capacity seems not closely relevant to the apparent urease inactivation.Our findings have possibly revealed a survival strategy of Helicobacter pylori after its gastric localization.展开更多
目的:探讨不同严重程度的实验性急性胰腺炎(AP)时动物肝脏和胰腺组织中伴侣因子60(Cpn60)的表达特点及可能的意义。方法:用雨蛙肽腹腔注射复制急性轻型胰腺炎(MAP)小鼠模型;用去氧胆酸钠逆胰胆管注射复制急性重型胰腺炎(SAP)大鼠模型;...目的:探讨不同严重程度的实验性急性胰腺炎(AP)时动物肝脏和胰腺组织中伴侣因子60(Cpn60)的表达特点及可能的意义。方法:用雨蛙肽腹腔注射复制急性轻型胰腺炎(MAP)小鼠模型;用去氧胆酸钠逆胰胆管注射复制急性重型胰腺炎(SAP)大鼠模型;分别设各自正常对照组(control)和假手术对照组(sham组)。造模后1、5、10 h分批处死动物,取肝、胰组织。病理切片观测胰腺组织病变情况;免疫共沉淀(IP)及Western blotting技术确定肝、胰组织Cpn60蛋白条带位置及表达的改变。结果:MAP及SAP组的胰腺组织分别出现水肿性和出血坏死性改变。MAP组及其sham组1 h Cpn60表达量明显低于正常小鼠,而5 h的表达量显著升高。SAP组和相应的sham组1 h Cpn60表达量明显增高,随后降低,从1 h到10 h SAP组的下降幅度明显大于相应sham组。结果还发现,小鼠、大鼠胰腺和肝脏组织Cpn60蛋白有两条带,在各组及其不同时段,该蛋白条带的变化各有不同。结论:大鼠、小鼠胰腺和肝脏组织中Cpn60蛋白表达呈双带,且在AP时变化不一,提示AP时不仅有Cpn60蛋白量的表达异常,还可能存在质的异常,这些异常与AP发生、发展的关系有待研究。展开更多
The family of HSP60 belongs to heat shock proteins with highly species conservatism and some important biologic functions. It can help other proteins for their assembling, folding and translocating, and plays a role i...The family of HSP60 belongs to heat shock proteins with highly species conservatism and some important biologic functions. It can help other proteins for their assembling, folding and translocating, and plays a role in protecting cells against injuries and other types of stress. In addition, HSP60 is frequently recognized by the immune system as predominant antigens during infections and the progression of certain autoimmune diseases and might provide a novel strategy for the development of immunotherapeutics. This review focuses on distribution, molecular chaperone mechanism, function and gene expression regulation of HSP60. [展开更多
基金Supported by Beijing Key Laboratory Special Fund,No.Z141107004414042
文摘AIM:To investigate the value of chaperonin containing TCP1,subunit 3(CCT3) to predict the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and determine its function in HCC progression.METHODS:CCT3 expression levels were examined in human non-cancerous liver tissues and a variety of HCC cell lines by quantitative real-time PCR and immunoblotting.CCT3 expression was suppressed by small interfering RNA.The effects of reducing CCT3 expression in HCC cells were tested.The3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay,cell counting experiment,cell cycle assay,apoptosis assay and invasion assay were employed to evaluate cell functions in vitro.Immunohistochemistry was performed on HCC specimens.In addition,CCT3 expression in HCC specimens was also assessed at the protein and mRNA level.Associations between clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis were analyzed,along with the possible mechanisms involved in CCT3's function in HCC progression.RESULTS:The expression levels of CCT3 mRNA and protein were upregulated in HCC cell lines in contrast to adjacent non-cancerous tissues.Reducing CCT3 expression not only suppressed cell proliferation in cell counts,MTT assay,cell cycle assay and induced cell apoptosis(P < 0.05 vs negative control),but also inhibited the tumor cell invasion capacity in vitro {P< 0.01 vs negative control).Overexpression of CCT3 in the nuclei of cancer cells in HCC specimens(58of 104 patients,55.8%) was associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients(3-year survival rate,55.5%vs 84.2%,P = 0.020) after hepatectomy.Mechanistic analyses showed that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) activation was decreased even when stimulated by interleukin-6 after knocking down CCT3 in the HepG2 cell line.CONCLUSION:Overexpression of CCT3 in the nuclei of cancerous cells is associated with HCC progression.CCT3 may be a target that affects the activation of STAT3 in HCC.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No. 30370643 Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau, China,No. 034111
文摘AIM： To investigate the changes of chaperonin60 （Cpn60） and pancreatic enzymes in pancreatic acinar cells, and to explore their roles in the development of experimental diabetes and acute pancreatitis （AP）. METHODS： Two different pathological models were replicated in Sprague-Dawley rats： streptozotocininduced diabetes and sodium deoxycholate-induced AP. The contents of Cpn60 and pancreatic enzymes in different compartments of the acinar cells were measured by quantitative immunoo/tochemistry. RESULTS： The levels of Cpn60 significanUy increased in diabetes, but decreased in AP, especially in the zymogen granules of the pancreatic acinar cells. The elevation of Cpn60 was accompanied with the increased levels of pancreatic lipase and chymotrypsinogen in diabetes. However, a decreased Cpn60 level was accompanied by high levels of lipase and chymotrypsinogen in AP. The amylase level was markedly reduced in both the pathological conditions. CONCLUSION： The equilibrium between Cpn60 and pancreaUc enzymes in the acinar cells breaks in AP, and Cpn60 content decreases, suggesting an insufficient chaperone capacity. This may promote the aggregation and autoactivation of the premature enzymes in the pancreatic acinar cells and play roles in the development of AR
文摘The cytosolic chaperonin T-complex protein 1-ring complex(TRiC)or chaperonin containing T-complex protein 1(CCT)is essential in de novo folding of approximately 10%of the eukaryotic,newly translated polypeptides as well as misfolded proteins.There is a close link between the TRiC/CCT cytosolic chaperonin and neurodegenerative diseases(Lopez et al.,2015).A lot of research suggests that CCT plays neuroprotective roles in neurodegenerative diseases including Huntington’s disease(Lopez et al.,2015).Either overexpression of a single or all eight subunits(CCT1-8)or treatment of the substrate-binding apical domain of yeast CCT1(ApiCCT1)prevented mutant Huntingtin aggregation and improved cellular and neuronal functions(Zhao et al.,2016).Importantly,our recent study has demonstrated that both CCT and ApiCCT could reduce mutant Huntingtin level and enhance both anterograde and retrograde axonal transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.These results led to restoration of the trophic status of striatal neurons from a bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease(Zhao et al.,2016).Axonal transport is regulated by many factors including microtubule-associated protein tau,which promotes tubulin polymerization and stabilizes microtubules.Impaired interaction between tau and microtubules plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of multiple neurodegenerative diseases(Wang and Mandelkow,2016).Interestingly,tau phosphorylation is also observed in brains of several Huntington’s disease mouse models and Huntington’s disease patients(Gratuze et al.,2016).In a recent study,we explored if CCT subunit has any effect on axonal transport in a tau-dependent pathway(Chen et al.,2018b).We focused on the retrograde axonal transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor,as neurotrophic factor-mediated signaling in the form of signaling endosome is essential in both the developing and the mature nervous system and dysregulation of trafficking of neurotrophic factors is tightly linked to disorders of the nervous system(Chen et al.,2018a).We found that the expression of a single CCT subunit(CCT5)significantly promoted retrograde axonal transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in primary cortical neurons.Mechanically,CCT regulated the level of cyclin-dependent kinase 5(CDK5)/p35/p25 and,subsequently contributed to CCT-induced tau phosphorylation,which induced detachment of tau from microtubules(Chen et al.,2018b)(Figure 1).
文摘The Group II chaperonin from Thermoplasma acidophilum was added to the in vitro amyloid fibrillation reaction of yeast Sup35NM protein to assess its effects. By measuring the formation of Sup35NM fibrils in real time using the fluorescent dye Thioflavin T, we found that the addition of T. acidophilum-cpn α16, α1, and β1 proteins suppressed fibril formation. Addition of a 0.1 molar-equivalent T. acidophilum-cpn α16 relative to Sup35NM prolonged the initial lag-time of fibril formation and decreased the rate of fibril extension. Addition of 1 or 3 molar-equivalents of T. acidophilum-cpn monomers also produced a similar effect. Delayed addition of these chaperonins after the initial lag phase did not suppress fibril formation. Interestingly, these effects were also observed upon adding only the apical domain segments of α and β-subunits, and we also found that deletion of the helical protrusion in the apical domain of these segments led to an abolishment of the suppression effects. A synthetic peptide whose sequence corresponded to the helical protrusion also displayed a suppression effect, which indicated that archaeal group II chaperonin binds to Sup35NM through the helical protrusion of the apical domain. These findings suggest that group II chaperonin might be actively involved in suppressing amyloid fibril formation, in addition to acting as a protein folding assistant.
文摘Cytosolic chaperonin CCT (also known as TRiC) is a hetero-oligomeric cage-like molecular chaperone that assists in protein folding by ATPase cycle-dependent conformational changes. However, role of the nucleo-tide binding and hydrolysis in CCT-assisted protein folding is still poorly understood. We purified CCT by using ATP-Sepharose and other columns, and found that CCT possesses ability to hydrolyze GTP, with an activity level very similar to the ATPase activity. CCT was more resistant to proteinase K treatment in the presence of GTP or ATP. These results suggest that the GTPase activity of CCT may play a role in chaperone-assisted protein folding.
文摘The individual roles of three chloroplast CPN60 protomers （CPN60α, CPN60β1, and CPN60β2） and whether and how they are assembled into functional chaperonin complexes are investigated in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Protein complexes containing all three potential subunits were identified in Chlamydomonas, and their co-expression in Escherichia coil yielded a homogeneous population of oligomers containing all three subunits （CPN60α1β11β2）, with a molecular weight consistent with a tetradecameric structure. While homo-oligomers of CPN60β could form, they were dramatically reduced when CPN60α was present and homo-oligomers of CPN60β2 were readily changed into hetero-oligomers in the presence of ATP and other protomers. ATP hydrolysis caused CPN60 oligomers to disassemble and drove the purified protomers to reconstitute oligomers in vitro, suggesting that the dynamic nature of CPN60 oligomers is dependent on ATP. Only hetero-oligomeric CPN60α1β1β2, containing CPN60α, CPN60β1, and CPN60β2 subunits in a 5：6：3 ratio, cooperated functionally with GroES. The combination of CPN60α and CPN60β subunits, but not the individual subunits alone, complemented GroEL function in E. coil with subunit recognition specificity. Down-regulation of the CPN60α subunit in Chlamydomonas resulted in a slow growth defect and an inability to grow autotrophically, indicating the essential role of CPN60α in vivo.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Programof Chinese Academy of Sciences under the Grant Nos. O82811 and KGCX2-YW-124National Natural Science Foundation of Chinaunder the Grant Nos. 20490201 and 20221603
文摘Chaperonins are known to facilitate the productive folding of numerous misfolded proteins. Despite their established importance, the mechanism of chaperonin-assisted protein folding remains unknown. In the present article, all-atom explicit solvent molecular dynamics （MD） simulations have been performed for the first time on rhodanese folding in a series of cavity-size and cavity-charge chaperonin mutants. A compromise between stability and flexibility of chaperonin structure during the substrate folding has been observed and the key factors affecting this dynamic process are discussed.
基金supported by Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (HKU7042/07P,HKU7049/09P and HKU7046/12P)
文摘It remains uncovered yet how the common gastric pathogen,Helicobacter pylori,survives through the acidic barrier and the immune response simultaneously in the stomach.Herein we report a unique GroES chaperonin that effectively inactivates Helicobacter pylori urease in Escherichia coli model.Such a function depends on the quaternary structure as well as the metal binding at the C terminus.Surprisingly,the C-terminal metal capacity seems not closely relevant to the apparent urease inactivation.Our findings have possibly revealed a survival strategy of Helicobacter pylori after its gastric localization.
文摘目的:探讨不同严重程度的实验性急性胰腺炎(AP)时动物肝脏和胰腺组织中伴侣因子60(Cpn60)的表达特点及可能的意义。方法:用雨蛙肽腹腔注射复制急性轻型胰腺炎(MAP)小鼠模型;用去氧胆酸钠逆胰胆管注射复制急性重型胰腺炎(SAP)大鼠模型;分别设各自正常对照组(control)和假手术对照组(sham组)。造模后1、5、10 h分批处死动物,取肝、胰组织。病理切片观测胰腺组织病变情况;免疫共沉淀(IP)及Western blotting技术确定肝、胰组织Cpn60蛋白条带位置及表达的改变。结果:MAP及SAP组的胰腺组织分别出现水肿性和出血坏死性改变。MAP组及其sham组1 h Cpn60表达量明显低于正常小鼠,而5 h的表达量显著升高。SAP组和相应的sham组1 h Cpn60表达量明显增高,随后降低,从1 h到10 h SAP组的下降幅度明显大于相应sham组。结果还发现,小鼠、大鼠胰腺和肝脏组织Cpn60蛋白有两条带,在各组及其不同时段,该蛋白条带的变化各有不同。结论:大鼠、小鼠胰腺和肝脏组织中Cpn60蛋白表达呈双带,且在AP时变化不一,提示AP时不仅有Cpn60蛋白量的表达异常,还可能存在质的异常,这些异常与AP发生、发展的关系有待研究。
文摘The family of HSP60 belongs to heat shock proteins with highly species conservatism and some important biologic functions. It can help other proteins for their assembling, folding and translocating, and plays a role in protecting cells against injuries and other types of stress. In addition, HSP60 is frequently recognized by the immune system as predominant antigens during infections and the progression of certain autoimmune diseases and might provide a novel strategy for the development of immunotherapeutics. This review focuses on distribution, molecular chaperone mechanism, function and gene expression regulation of HSP60. [
