Heat stress-induced heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expressions among vulnerable populations in urban and rural areas Klang Valley, Malaysia

BACKGROUND: As climate change raises global temperatures, there remains a notable gap in understanding the body's mechanisms of heat stress defense exhibited by Heat Shock Protein (HSP) within the populations.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the expression level of HSP70 in response to indoor heat exposure among vulnerable populations in both urban and rural settings.

METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional was conducted among 108 participants from urban and rural areas in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The study included face-to-face interviews, indoor heat exposure monitoring, and thermal stress classification using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). HSP70 gene and protein expressions were analyzed using reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and HSP70 High Sensitivity Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), respectively.

RESULTS: Urban areas experienced signficantly higher UTCI heat exposure levels than rural areas (p