Chaperones and Disease

Abstract
In Table 3 of their excellent review, Macario and Conway de Macario (Oct. 6 issue)1 state that an elevated level of circulating heat-shock protein (HSP) 70 has not been associated with any disease. However, we recently described elevated levels of circulating HSP70 in sickle cell disease.2 The increase in the level of HSP70 probably contributes to cytokine activation, since the protein may be released as a consequence of cell damage resulting from repeated episodes of ischemia–reperfusion injury.3,4