Mycobacterial Heat Shock Protein 60s in the Induction and Regulation of Infectious Disease

Mycobacterium tuberculosis expresses several heat shock protein 60s, also called chaperonin 60 proteins. As well as being protein folding molecules, the chaperonin 60 proteins have implications in bacterial diseases. Here we discuss the effect of the mycobacterial chaperonins in the regulation of tuberculosis. The disease is characterized by the formation of granulomas, which are necessary for completing the life cycle of bacteria. The mycobacterial chaperonins are released into the cellular environment and are potent pro-inflammatory inducers. An M. tuberculosis mutant lacking the chaperonin 60.1 is not capable of inducing the granulomas in vivo. In vitro data also suggest an inhibitory role of mycobacterial chaperonins. Taken together, the mycobacterial chaperonin 60 proteins may control the immune responses during the tuberculosis infection.