Immunity to the 60kD heat shock proteins

A brief review on the role of the heat shock proteins (hsp), their common properties and possible consequences for early pregnancy development is described. The 60kD hsp plays an important role as immunogenic antigen of many microbial pathogens and possibly in postinfectious autoimmunity. The immune responce to hsp may cause pregnancy failure. The consequences of previous sensitization to microbial hsp and the effects of human autoantibodies to hsp, are demonstrated in a mouse embryo culture model.