Heat shock protein (HSP) 27 is one of the small HSPs that are constitutively expressed at different levels in different cell types and tissues (this protein has also been referred to as the Estrogen-Regulated 24 kDa protein, hsp25 and hsp28). Like other small heat shock proteins, HSP27 is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-translational level. In response to stress, the expression level of HSP27 increases several-fold to confer cellular resistance to the adverse environmental change. Human HSP27 shares greater than 50% homology with the low molecular weight Drosophila HSP and mammalian crystalline lens protein. Because of the estrogen responsive nature of HSP27, the protein has been extensively studied in human estrogen responsive tissue such as cervix, endometrium and breast tissue. Recently, Hsp27 has been implicated as a regulator of breast tumor blood vessel growth, as an anti-inflammatory agent, and important for sensory neuron survival following axotomy.
							
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