Cell-penetrating peptide technology to deliver chaperones and associated factors in diseases and basic research.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP), also called protein transduction domains (PTD), membrane-permeable peptides (MPP), or Trojan horse peptides, have been used in many different research areas. The delivery of heat shock proteins (Hsp) using CPP has been applied in models for apoptosis, necrosis, oxidative stress, neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, cystic fibrosis, smooth muscle relaxation, myocardial injury, scar formation, and others. This review summarizes the accomplishments of the field over the last years and discusses why Hsp are particularly suitable for CPP-mediated delivery.