Alarming levels of heat shock proteins 72 and 90α in critically ill children

Extracellular heat shock proteins (HSP) act as inducers of interleukins (IL) and stimulants for immune cells during systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Little is known about the alarming roles of extracellular HSP72 and HSP90α in the acute phase [1] of sepsis (S) or severe sepsis (SS). We determined serum HSP90α, HSP72 and neutrophil CD64 expression, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNFα in children with S or SS compared with SIRS (brain injury) or healthy children (H).