Expression of heat shock genes in hepatocytes is affected by age and food restriction in rats.

The objective of this study was to determine how food restriction altered the age-related changes in the basal and heat-induced expression of heat shock genes (hsc70, grp78, and ubiquitin) by hepatocytes isolated from young (4 to 6 mo old) and old (26 to 28 mo old) male Fischer 344 rats. The basal levels of the mRNA transcripts for hsc70 and ubiquitin were similar for hepatocytes isolated from young and old rats fed with free access to the diet (control) or from rats fed a restricted diet (40% restriction of food intake). However, the induction of the mRNA transcripts for hsc70 and ubiquitin by a heat shock (42.5 degrees C for 30 min) was significantly higher for hepatocytes isolated from old rats fed the restricted diet compared with old rats fed with free access to the diet. The changes in hsc70 mRNA levels were paralleled by similar changes in hsc70 transcription by isolated nuclei; therefore, the greater induction of hsc70 expression by food restriction results from changes in the transcription of hsc70 gene. In contrast with hsc70 and ubiquitin, the basal levels of grp78 were reduced with age and by food restriction. Therefore, the effect of aging and food restriction on the basal and heat-induced expression of heat shock genes varies considerably from gene to gene.