Heat shock proteins used to treat sepsis

AUGUSTA, Ga., Aug. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists have found protein inhibitors used to fight cancer are also effective in battling severe infections in intensive care patients.

Medical College of Georgia researchers led by Dr. John Catravas said an animal model of sepsis -- a major cause of ICU patient death -- suggests HSP 90, a member of the family of heat shock proteins, helps degrade proteins perpetuating inflammation. The study's results included restored lung function, reduced blood vessel leakage and fewer byproducts of inflammation such as white blood cells.

"We would die without an inflammatory response but unreined inflammation is bad," said Catravas. "That's just what happens with overwhelming infection; inflammation, which helps the body eliminate invaders, essentially keeps working after invaders are gone and the new target is the body."

Heat shock proteins carry proteins to where they are needed and fold them so they do the correct job.

"The hypothesis we worked on is that these HSP 90 inhibitors take the heat shock protein and move it into a different conformation," he said.

The research is reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.