Hsp70 prevents nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in articular chondrocytes

Terauchi R, Takahashi KA, Arai Y, et al. · Arthritis and Rheumatism

Overexpressed Hsp70 almost completely inhibited nitric-oxide- and staurosporine-induced chondrocyte apoptosis, apparently by obstructing caspase-3 activation.

Population

Primary rabbit articular chondrocyte cultures

Intervention

Adenoviral overexpression of the hsp70 gene

Limitations

Gene transfer in cultured rabbit cells — establishes that HSP70 is chondroprotective, not that any heat exposure achieves this in a human joint.