Changes in heat shock protein 70 localization and its content in rabbit aorta at various stages of experimental atherosclerosis

Heat shock proteins, important components of cellular defense, are involved in the process of atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the changes in distribution of hsp70 and its aortic content at various stages of high fat diet-induced atherosclerosis in the rabbits. Rabbits were fed on HFD (0.5% cholesterol+10% table butter) for 1, 3 and 6 months and hsp70 expression analyzed in normal and atherosclerotic aortae. Normal and 1 month group aortae showed normal histology and a homogeneous distribution of hsp70 while aortae from 3 and 6 months group showed atherosclerotic lesions and a heterogeneous distribution of hsp70. Immunoblot assay revealed an increase in aortic hsp70 levels on HFD feeding for 3 and 6 months. The possible role of elevated levels of hsp70 during atherosclerosis is discussed.