Heat shock proteins: Changes related to aging, development of thrombotic complications, and peptide regulation of the genome

Abstract

The present review of published data and the authors’ own results addresses the role of heat shock proteins in the regulation of cell and tissue homeostasis and considers the decrease in their expression levels as one of the main factors of aging. Heat shock proteins are involved in the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation of cells, as well as in that of intracellular homeostasis, and, therefore, play a substantial role in maintaining the activity of the immune, cardiovascular, and other systems of the organism. These proteins are also implied in the development of atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and other diseases accompanied by thrombotic complications. The use of short peptides provides an opportunity to restore and normalize the expression of heat shock proteins, which probably accounts for the antistress and geroprotective activity of these peptides.