Expression of heat shock protein epitopes in renal disease.

We have examined the immunohistochemical pattern of staining with antibodies to the 72 kD heat shock protein (HSP72) and ubiquitin in 28 cases of human renal disease. Three distinct patterns of staining were seen with the use of an antibody to HSP72: tubular, intraluminal and interstitial. No glomerular staining was detected. In no cases were ubiquitin epitopes detected. The pattern of staining was most strongly related to the activity of the disease process, positive staining often being present in relation to agents or processes known to upregulate stress protein expression in experimental isolated cellular systems. Stress protein upregulation in human renal disease may represent cellular attempts at cytoprotection in conditions of active sublethal cell toxicity.