Aim: To study stress response in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) infected with Hantavirus (HTV).
Methods: The expression of HSP70 was detected by immunocytochemical staining, in situ nucleic acid hybridization and RT-PCR.
Results: After being infected with HTV, the expression of HSP70 in HUVEC increased. RT-PCR showed that the level of HSP70 mRNA increased rapidly and kept at a high level in comparison with the normal control (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The over-expression of HSP70 in HUVECs can be induced by Hantavirus infection, which may play a role in the inhibition of virus reproduction and the protection of cells from virus infection.