Heat shock protein beta-1 mRNA (HSPB1 mRNA) (HSPB1 mRNA)

Heat shock protein beta-1 (HSPB1) mRNA, commonly known as HSP27 mRNA, encodes a small heat shock protein that functions as a molecular chaperone and a potent inhibitor of apoptosis (PMID: 27573444). In many cancers, HSP27 is overexpressed in response to therapeutic stress, such as chemotherapy or radiation, where it stabilizes misfolded proteins and prevents the activation of pro-apoptotic pathways, thereby promoting treatment resistance and cell survival (PMID: 25107450). Targeting the mRNA transcript using antisense oligonucleotides like apatorsen (OGX-427) allows for the specific downregulation of HSP27 protein levels by inducing RNase H-mediated degradation of the transcript (PMID: 24335015). This strategy aims to sensitize tumor cells to standard therapies and inhibit metastasis. Beyond oncology, HSP27 is involved in cytoskeletal remodeling and has been implicated in neurodegenerative conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (PMID: 30135140). Clinical development has primarily focused on its role as a cytoprotective factor in advanced malignancies including prostate and bladder cancer.

Other names

HSP27 mRNAHeat shock protein 27 mRNA27 kDa heat shock protein mRNAHSPB1 transcript

Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated mRNA degradation via RNase H recruitment, leading to decreased translation of the HSP27 protein (PMID: 24335015).