The Effect of Sericin on Heat Shock Proteins 60 and 90, and TLR2 and TLR4 Induced by Chronic Heat Stress in Male Mice

Abstract

Background: Heat stress followed by heat stroke, which is caused by an increase in body temperature to more than 40 °C, is a medical emergency that affects many people in work situations and weather conditions and results in irreversible neurological and cognitive damage. Methods: In general, 75 male albino mice in the weight range of 28-30 g were used in the present study. The mice were divided into 5 groups of 15, including the control group, heat stress (HS) group, HS group+sericin 100, HS group+sericin 150, and HS group+sericin 200. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and Toll-like receptor (TLR4) expression levels were measured using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the expression of hsp60 and hsp90 proteins was measured using a western blot. Results: The expression level of TLR2 and TLR4 receptors increased significantly with the passage of time as a result of stimulation. Western blot results showed that the expression levels of HSP60 and HSP90 increased as well. Conclusion: The results of RT-PCR revealed that HS significantly increases the expression of innate immune system receptors such as TLR2 and TLR4.