Hsp70 protects from stroke in atrial fibrillation patients by preventing thrombosis with no increased bleeding risk

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for cardioembolic stroke. Anticoagulant drugs are effective in preventing AF-related stroke. However, the high frequency of anticoagulant-associated major bleeding is a major concern particularly when antiplatelet treatment is simultaneously administered. Here, microarray analysis in peripheral blood cells in eight patients with AF and stroke and eight AF subjects without stroke identified a stroke related gene expression pattern. HSPA1B, which encodes for heat-shock protein 70 kDa (Hsp70), was the most differentially expressed gene. This gene was downregulated in stroke subjects, a finding confirmed further in an independent AF cohort of 200 individuals. Hsp70 knock-out (KO) mice subjected to different thrombotic challenges developed thrombosis significantly earlier than their wild-type (WT) counterparts.

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Allende M, Molina E, Guruceaga E, Tamayo I, González-Porras JR, Gonzalez-López TJ, Toledo E, Rabal O, Ugarte A, Roldán V, Rivera J, Oyarzabal J, Montes R, Hermida J