PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - T Kubo AU - Y Arai AU - K Takahashi AU - T Ikeda AU - S Ohashi AU - I Kitajima AU - O Mazda AU - M Takigawa AU - J Imanishi AU - Y Hirasawa TI - Expression of transduced HSP70 gene protects chondrocytes from stress. DP - 2001 Feb 01 TA - The Journal of Rheumatology PG - 330--335 VI - 28 IP - 2 4099 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/2/330.short 4100 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/2/330.full SO - J Rheumatol2001 Feb 01; 28 AB - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of adenovirus vector mediated transduction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene to human chondrocyte-like cell (HCS-2/8) against heat stress. METHODS: Two adenovirus vectors that contain wild-type (AxSHEwt) or mutant-type (AxSHEmt) HSP70 gene, and that are regulated by SRalpha promoter, were constructed. The mutant-type lacks the area that expresses stress durability. One of the 2 adenovirus vectors was added to the cultures of human chondrocyte-like cells (HCS-2/8). Heat stress (48 degrees C) was applied to the transduced cells for 2 h, and the efficacy of adenovirus vector mediated transduction of HSP70 gene against heat stress in the chondrocytes was investigated using alamar blue assay and MTT assay. RESULTS: Absorbance levels at 48 degrees C were 300.3 +/- 51.9 and 1.173 +/- 0.011 in the controls, 278.5 + 33.8 and 1.217 +/- 0.018 in the AxSHEmt transduced cells, and 349 +/- 14.7 and 1.371 +/- 0.033 in the AxSHEwt transduced cells. The level in the AxSHEwt transduced cells was significantly higher than in the other 2 groups (p < 0.05). With 37 degrees C treatment, no significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: Chondrocytes to which HSP70 gene was transduced had a significantly higher metabolic activity and viability under heat stress.