Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Heat Shock Protein Subtypes, Cardiovascular Effects, and Climate/Stress Triggers
| HSP Subtype | Major Cardiovascular Effects | Climate / Stress Triggers Relevant to CVS |
|---|---|---|
| HSP27 (HspB1) | Stabilizes cytoskeleton; protects endothelial integrity; reduces apoptosis; modulates inflammation; protective role in atherosclerosis and vascular remodeling | Heat waves, shear stress, oxidative stress, ischemia–reperfusion, metabolic stress (obesity, diabetes) |
| αB-crystallin (HspB5) | Preserves cardiomyocyte structure; supports contractile function; enhances ischemic tolerance; protects myofilaments | Thermal stress, hypoxia, ischemia, mechanical strain |
| HSP60 | Mitochondrial protein folding; immune activation when extracellular; implicated in hypertension, atherosclerosis, and metabolic cardiovascular risk | Oxidative stress, inflammation, metabolic stress, chronic heat exposure |
| HSP70 (HspA1A/Hsp72) | Strong cardioprotection; improves ischemic tolerance; maintains calcium homeostasis; reduces arrhythmias; modulates immune responses in hypertension and atherosclerosis | Acute and chronic heat stress, heat waves, hypoxia, ischemia–reperfusion, oxidative stress |
| HSC70 (HspA8) | Constitutive chaperone; supports protein quality control; extracellular form protects against inflammatory hypertrophy | Basal cellular stress, inflammation, metabolic stress |
| HSP90 | Stabilizes signaling proteins (eNOS, kinases); regulates vascular tone; involved in endothelial function and atherosclerosis | Heat stress, oxidative stress, inflammation, disturbed shear stress |
| HSP20 (HspB6) | Enhances myocardial contractility; reduces apoptosis; limits infarct size; promotes autophagy | Ischemia–reperfusion, hypoxia, thermal stress |
| HSP22 (HspB8) | Regulates cardiac hypertrophy; supports mitochondrial function; involved in aging-related cardiac remodeling | Chronic stress, pressure overload, metabolic stress |
| HO-1 (HSP32) | Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; protects vascular endothelium; improves ischemic tolerance | Heat stress, hypoxia, oxidative stress, environmental toxins |
| Heat Shock Factors (HSF1/HSF2) | Master regulators of HSP expression; coordinate cardioprotective stress responses | Heat waves, oxidative stress, ischemia, metabolic and inflammatory stress |