The present study was attempted to unveil the impact of heat stress on transcription pattern of major heat shock response genes in caprine cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiac tissues (n = 6) were collected and primary cardiac cell culture was done. Cultured cardiac fibroblasts were kept in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and 95% air at 38.5 °C. Cardiac cells achieved 70-75% confluence after 72 hours of incubation. Heat stress was induced on confluent cardiac fibroblasts at 42 °C for 0 (control), 20, 60, 100 and 200 min. Quantitative RT-PCR for β2m (internal control), HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and HSP110 was done and their transcription pattern was assessed by Pfaffl method. HSP60, HSP90, and HSP110 transcription did not differ at 20 min, up-regulated (p < 0.05) from 60 to 200 min and registered highest at 200 min of heat exposure. HSP70 transcription was gradually escalated (p < 0.05) time dependently from 20 to 200 min and reached zenith at 200 min of heat exposure. Differential induction in transcription of key molecular chaperones at various durations of heat exposure might reduce cardiac fibroblasts apoptosis and thus could maintain cardiac tissue function during heat stress.
Keywords: Cardiac fibroblasts; Expression; Goat; Heat stress; Molecular chaperones.