ISSN: 2642-6145
Authors: Gopal A and Gopal U*
Heat-shock proteins are commonly considered to be an intracellular molecular chaperone which performs multitude of functions like cytoprotective and cellular housekeeping functions. However many of these chaperones translocate into the surface of the cells particularly during stress induced conditions like hypoxia, UV-radiation, chemotherapy, drugs and microbial stimuli. Once on the cell surface or in the extracellular space, the heat shock proteins functions like receptors for wide variety of ligands by which it regulates signaling, proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, inflammation and immunity. Thus, cell-surface Heat-shock proteins may play a unique role in tumor metastasis, distinct from but perhaps overlapping with its intracellular function. The discovery of cell surface Heat shock proteins in cancer cells and cells undergoing stress presents a novel therapeutic strategy.
Keywords: Heat shock Protein; Cell surface; Cancer; ER Stress; CS-HSP90; CS-GRP78
