The presence and localization of heat shock protein 70 in rat mast cells]

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is considered not only as a cytosolic stress protein, but also as an extracellular molecule with immunomodulatory and signaling functions that play a role in adaptation to stress on cellular and systemic levels. The active involvement of mast cells in adaptation to stress may be associated with the presence of Hsp70 in secretory granules. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we showed that Hsp70 localized in secretory granules of rat pericardial and peritoneal mast cells. Localization of Hsp70 in rat perinoneal mast cells isolated by centrifugation on Percoll was confirmed by immunoblotting. The proposed involvement of mast cells in production of extracellular Hsp70 and possible functions of Hsp70 inside the mast cells granules are discussed.