Carbenoxolone, a new inducer of heat shock protein 70

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is capable of protecting cells, tissues, organs, and animals from a subsequent, normally lethal heating, as well as from numerous disease states. Therefore, it would be of great therapeutic benefit to discover compounds that are clinically safe yet able to induce Hsp70 in patients. Carbenoxolone, an antiulcer drug, protects gastric mucosal cells against irritants in vivo and in vitro. We assessed here whether carbenoxolone induces Hsp70 expression in human cell lines. We found that carbenoxolone increased the expression of Hsp70 protein and mRNA, and Hsp70 promoter activity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.