Hsp27 and 70 expression in the heart, lung and kidney in SIDS

Purpose. Hyperthermia is one of the known risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Hyperthermal stress can induce the heat shock response with increased expression of heat-shock proteins (hsps). Methods. Immunohistochemical staining for hsp27 and hsp70 in the myocardial, pulmonary and renal tissue from 120 SIDS cases and 29 control cases was examined. Results. Hsp70 immunostaining was negative in all investigated organs of both groups. Hsp27 expression was found in the lungs in a few cases at different intensities in the study and control groups. Conclusion. The hypothesis of hyperthermia being a pathogenic factor for SIDS was not supported by immunohistochemical visualization of hsp27 or hsp70. However, when the temperature is below 41.8°C, hsp expression is not induced.