ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) antibody in the hypertensive patients with cerebral infarction and explore the role of plasma antibody against HSP70 in the pathogenesis of cerebral infarction and its relationship to the brain tissue damage. METHODS: One hundred patients with CT or MRI confirmed cerebral infarction were enrolled in the study, in whom 64 were male, and 36 female. Among them, 67 patients were having hypertension and 33 with normal blood pressure. One hundred healthy individuals, including 58 male and 42 female, served as the control group. The level of plasma HSP70 antibody was determined with Western blot-enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) technique. RESULTS: Patients with cerebral infarction had a significantly higher incidence (69%) of antibodies to HSP70 compared to the low incidence (13%) of antibodies to HSP70 in the controls. Patients with hypertension had a high incidence (57%) of antibodies to HSP70 compared to the low incidence (12%) of antibodies to HSP70 in patients with normal blood pressure in cerebral infarction group. Patients with hypertension in the control group had a higher incidence (11%) of antibodies to HSP70 compared to the low incidence (2%) of antibodies to HSP70 in the same group. CONCLUSION: There is a significant difference in the level of antibodies to HSP70 between patients with cerebral infarction and controls. Elevation in the level of antibodies to HSP70 may reflect the degree of brain tissue damage.
