Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that play important roles in protein homeostasis, with HSP70 linked to a role in neuroprotection. HSP70 is upregulated in response to various stress Show more
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that play important roles in protein homeostasis, with HSP70 linked to a role in neuroprotection. HSP70 is upregulated in response to various stressors, such as heat therapy (HT), which has been shown to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) content. BDNF reduces the activity of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for the generation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides that form the characteristic Aβ plaques observed in Alzheimer's disease brains. The current pilot study examined whether 4 wk of HT can increase HSP70 and BDNF content (pro and mature forms) in the brain, and alter markers of amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing. Male mice had their core temperature maintained between 37.0 and 38.0°C in Control (CON, Show less