Abstract

The hot shock proteins (HSP) were discovered by Ritossa in the fruit fly salivary gland after heat stimulation, giving the name HSP. In following comprehensive studies, it was recovered that HSP was a group of highly conservative cell stress proteins in all organisms. HSP are expressed under many stress conditions, e.g. in the presence of high temperature, heavy metal, oxygen deficit, ethyl alcohol and viral or bacteria infections, etc. HSP, as the molecular companion, play a vital role in the folding, stability and synthesis of the protein. The lens opacification (cataract) is one of most common causes of blindness in the world. Various studies indicate that the occurrence of cataract is directly related to free radical production, oxidized damage, changes of the proportion of lens protein and apoptosis of lens capsule epithelial cells, etc. Recent studies indicated that the lens expresses a series of HSP. They play a key role in maintaining the stability and transparency of the lens. This article is a summary of the relationship between the HSP and the occurrence of cataract.