Heat-shock gene expression excludes hepatic acute-phase gene expression after resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock

Background. To determine whether the gene expression of both acute-phase reactants (APR) and the major heat-shock protein (hsp-72) can occur simultaneously, transcriptional rates were measured during shock and resuscitation. Methods. A nuclear runoff technique was applied to hepatic biopsy specimens obtained from pigs before shock, during 40% blood volume hemorrhagic shock (1 and 2 hours), and after resuscitation (4 and 6 hours). Results. Shock-induced transcription of hsp-72 was elevated elevenfold over sham operation at 2 hours (p < 0.02, Mann-Whitney rank test). Individually shocked animals did not transcribe both classes of stress genes but segregated into two groups: (1) strong APR transcriptional responders and (2) hsp-72 transcriptional responders. In group 2, APR transcription was significantly suppressed. Antichymotrypsin transcription was an average of eighteenfold lower in group 2 versus group 1 (p < 0.05 at 1,2, and 6 hours). Conclusions. Different classes of stress protein genes are not transcribed simultaneously. We infer that their increased accumulation at the mRNA level is the result of sequential transcription. Hsp-72 transcription excludes that of the APR genes that may be critical to survival after stress.