EPINEPHRINE INDUCES 72-kD HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN (HSP72) IN CULTURED HUMAN FIBROBLASTS

Abstract

In order to know the stress response of cells to epinephrine, we examined the induction of 72-kD protein (HSP 72) in cultured human fibroblasts using an immuno- fluorescence method. HSP 72 was induced strongly and rapidly after epinephrine treatment at a final concentration of 2.7×10⁻⁵ M which corresponds to the concentration of clinical use. When propranolol (1×10⁻⁴ M) was added to a culture medium containing epinephrine, the onset and peak of HSP 72 induction of fibroblasts were delayed compared to those observed after epinephrine treatment alone. These results suggest that epinephrine is actually a potent inducer of HSP 72 and that the cells are stressed by epinephrine at a concentration of routine use in surgery. Furthermore, the induction of HSP 72 by epinephrine is considered to be related to its β-adrenergic actlon.