Presence of heat shock protein 70 in secondary lymphoid tissue correlates with stroke prognosis

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp-70) can act as a danger signal and activate immune responses. We studied the presence of Hsp-70 in lymphoid tissue and plasma of acute stroke patients and asymptomatic controls free of neurological disease. Immunofluorescence, Western blotting, qRT-PCR and flow cytometry studies were performed. Plasma Hsp-70 concentration at day 7 was similar in patients and controls, whereas patients disclosed stronger immunoreactivity to Hsp-70 in lymphoid tissue than controls. Most Hsp-70. + cells were antigen presenting cells located in T cell zones. Stronger immunoreactivity to Hsp-70 was associated with smaller infarctions and better functional outcome. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.This work was supported by grants from the ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’ (ISCIII) (PI09/1313), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (SAF2011-30492), the ERANET-NEURON project (PRI-PIMNEU-2011-1342) of the European Community, and a donation by the Doctor Melchor Colet Foundation. We are indebted to IDIBAPS Biobank, Xarxa de Bancs de Tumors de Catalunya (XBTC) financed by ‘Pla Director d’Oncologia de Catalunya’ and Red Nacional de Biobancos (RNBB, ReTBioH) financed by ISCIII (RETIC RD09-0076/0038)Peer Reviewe