Other

Vladimir Volloch

Michael Sherman

Vladimir Gabai

Anatoli Meriin

Disclosed herein is a method for inducing Hsp72 production in a cell. The method involves contacting the cell transiently with a proteasome inhibitor in an amount sufficient to induce Hsp72 production. Preferably Hsp72 levels are induced to a level sufficient for the suppression of stress-activated kinase activity attributable, for example, to a stress-activated kinase selected from the group consisting of JNK and p38. The method has both in vitro and in vivo applications. Also disclosed is a method of the type described above is applied specifically to aged cells. Also disclosed is a method for treating pathologies associated with apoptosis and inflammation in an individual. The method involves administering to the individual a proteasome inhibitor in an amount sufficient to induce Hsp72 production. In a preferred embodiment of the therapeutic method, the individual is an aged individual. Stress-induced pathologies such as ischemia are particularly important with respect to the therapeutic aspect of the invention. Also disclosed is a method for identifying an organic compound having the ability to induce Hsp72 levels in aged cells to a level sufficient to suppress stress-activated kinase activity.

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Brookline, MA, United States of America

Vladimir Volloch