Thermotolerance and the heat shock response in normal human keratinocytes in culture

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Investigative Dermatology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/1523-1747.ep12514303· OSTI ID:6287672

Maytin, E V; Wimberly, J M; Anderson, R R ^[1]

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1. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (USA)

Protective responses of normal human epidermal keratinocytes in culture, after exposure to elevated temperatures (heat shock), were examined. Cell viability, measured 24-48 h after a 20-min heat challenge at temperatures between 37 degrees C and 54 degrees C, declined sharply within a narrow 2 degrees-3 degrees C range. However, conditioning with a mild thermal pretreatment (40 degrees C or 42 degrees C for 1 h) protected the keratinocytes against a subsequent heat challenge. This induced thermotolerance was apparent when cells were challenged at 1, 3, and 6 h after the thermal pre-treatment, but disappeared by 24 h. Heating conditions that induce thermotolerance also stimulated the synthesis of heat-shock proteins (hsp) in these cells. Inductions of prominent 35S-methionine labeled bands at 70, 78, and 90 kDa were observed. However, the increases in synthesis of these heat-shock proteins did not correlate well with thermotolerance, because large increases were also observed at certain elevated temperatures that did not produce improved survival. Keratins observed in these cells (50 and 58 kDa classes) were not induced by heat shock. The development of thermotolerance, and the induction of hsp, were both completely blocked by 3'-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin), an inhibitor of newly synthesized messenger RNA, but not by adenosine, the normal analog. While heat-inducible mRNA apparently mediate some function important for the development of thermotolerance, the nature of that role remains speculative. Overall, our findings establish the existence of a functional thermal protective mechanism in human keratinocytes that appears to require the synthesis of new mRNA.

• OSTI ID: 6287672
• Journal Information: Journal of Investigative Dermatology; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Investigative Dermatology; (USA) Vol. 95:6; ISSN 0022-202X; ISSN JIDEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201 -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
560200* -- Thermal Effects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
BIOSYNTHESIS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CULTURES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DRUGS
EPIDERMIS
EPITHELIUM
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
LIPOTROPIC FACTORS
MAMMALS
MAN
MESSENGER-RNA
METHIONINE
NUCLEI
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RADIOISOTOPES
RNA
SKIN
SULFUR 35
SULFUR ISOTOPES
SURVIVAL TIME
SYNTHESIS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TISSUES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
VIABILITY