recombinant glucose-regulated protein 78

Recombinant glucose-regulated protein 78 (rGRP78) is a biotechnologically produced form of the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein, a member of the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) family that functions as a molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). While primarily located in the ER to assist in protein folding, GRP78 can be expressed on the cell surface (csGRP78) under conditions of cellular stress. In the context of cardiovascular research, rGRP78 is utilized as an experimental immunogen to induce the production of anti-GRP78 autoantibodies in animal models. These autoantibodies have been found to bind to csGRP78 on endothelial cells, triggering pro-inflammatory signaling pathways such as NF-κB and increasing the expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1), which contributes to the progression of atherosclerosis.