Current ideas about applications of heat shock proteins in vaccine design and immunotherapy

Abstract

Heat shock proteins (HSPs), as molecular chaperones, perform critical functions in maintaining cell homeostasis. Certain HSPs in extra-cellular milieu are capable of modulating innate and adaptive immunity due to their ability to chaperone polypeptides and to interact with the host's immune system, particularly professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). This review summarizes the immunomodulating functions of HSPs and their potential applications in cancer immunotherapy. © 2005 Taylor & Francis.