The resolution of inflammation is central to the maintenance of good health and immune homeostasis. Recently, several intracellular stress proteins have been described as having extracellular properties that are anti-inflammatory or favour the resolution of inflammation. We propose that these molecules should be defined as resolution-associated molecular patterns (RAMPs). RAMPs are released at times of cellular stress and help to counterbalance the inflammatory effects of pathogen-associated (PAMPs) and damage-associated (DAMPs) molecular patterns. We propose that heat shock protein 10 (HSP10), αB-crystallin (αBC), HSP27 and binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) should be considered founding members of the RAMP family. A greater understanding of RAMP biology may herald the development of novel immunotherapies.
© 2011 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Immunology © 2011 British Society for Immunology.