Serum Heat Shock Protein Levels in IgA Nephropathy

Background: The family of heat shock proteins (HSPs) contains several members that regulate the cell response to any hazardous factors to protect protein structure. The aim of the study was to determine whether serum levels of HSPs increase in children with IgA nephropathy/Immunoglobulin A - associated vasculitis nephritis (IgAN/IgAVN) and to assess their relationship with the prognostic factors. Patients and Methods: Twenty - nine patients with IgAN/IgAVN, 41 patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) as a patient control group, and 24 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Renal function was normal in all participants. Serum levels of HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90 were measured using an enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Median serum levels of HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 were significantly higher in the IgAN/IgAVN group than in the INS group and controls (P < 0.05). Among these HSPs, only HSP60 had no overlap between patients and controls. Serum HSP40, HSP60, HSP70 levels were significantly higher in the patients with INS than in controls (P < 0.05), whereas HSP27 and HSP90 were not different. HSP27 was significantly higher in patients with proteinuria in the IgAN/IgAVN group than in patients with no proteinuria (P = 0.045). None of these HSPs was related to the presence of crescent and severity of proteinuria in the IgAN/IgAVN group. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that serum levels of HSP27, 40, 60, 70, 90 increased in the patients with IgAN/IgAVN considering HSPs might have a role in pathogenesis of the disease. Among these HSPs, HSP60 was a prominent marker because it had no overlap between patients and controls. Explaining the role of these HSPs in IgAN/IgAVN may pave the way for future treatment.