Samples or averaging protein expression of Imazamox several samples may well mask possible changes in expression. Apart from the reported changes and their link to placental pathology the results have important implications for how results in placental disease (and perhaps other organs) can be influenced by sampling methods.The increase in HSP 70 in labor and preeclampsia at precise zones suggests that there is a controlled spatial change in HSP 70 expression. The physiological and pathological significance of this remains to be elucidated but oxidative stress is the common link. Oxidative stress occurs when the production of reactive oxygen species overwhelms the intrinsic anti-oxidant defenses. The main components of the HSP 70 family are HSP 72 (HSP 70i) (induced during cell stress) and HSP 73 (HSC 70) which is constitutively expressed in all cells. Both have very similar amino acid sequences. Both are involved in translocation of proteins from the cytosol into the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria and in protein folding during and after synthesis [14,15]. Under nonstressful conditions constitutively expressed members of each HSP family are found in almost all organelles including the nucleus, cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. By interacting with proteins and peptides they play an important role in cell and organ survival. HSPs are induced in response to cell stresses including heat shock, oxidative stress, ultraviolet radiation, ischemia-reperfusion injury, viral infections, nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, physical damage, ischemia and chemicals. Two mechFigure 8. Shows HSP 70 expression in three different placenta zones for all patients in the labor group (n = 6 patients) (upper panel). Quantification was performed using the BioRad documentation ECL imager system. The lower panel shows the relationship between protein loading and signal obtained. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054540.gHSP70 is Upregulated in Labor and Preeclampsialabor and it has been proposed that this inflammatory action of a usually anti-inflammatory cytokine might accelerate parturition and delivery [17]. Apoptosis has been implicated in both preeclampsia and labor. In the apoptotic pathway, HSPs act at several stages to prevent cell death initiated by stress-induced damage. For example HSP 70 inhibits caspase 3 and 9. Thus it is possible HSP 70 acts to keep the rate of apoptosis in check [14,15,16]. Secreted HSPs, including HSP 70, can take part in immune surveillance. They can capture antigens and interact with receptors on antigen presenting cells. HSP 70 can bind to, and activate, human monocytes, inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-10 [18]. Previous publications of HSP 70 expression in the placenta and changes during adverse pregnancy have not controlled for sampling and the confounding effects of labor. These studies can be summarized as follows and unless stated otherwise Madrasin web controlling for labor or sampling site was not done. Shah et al [19] used immunohistochemistry to assess HSP 70 expression in paraffin sections of placentae from normal term pregnancies and reported immunostaining on cell types, both in cytoplasm and nucleus. Site of sampling or labor was not assessed. An immunohistochemical study of HSP 70 expression in pre-term labor, term labor, term non-labor and pre-term cesarean section for preeclampsia or intra uterine growth retardation found no changes in HSP 70 expression on amniochorio.Samples or averaging protein expression of several samples may well mask possible changes in expression. Apart from the reported changes and their link to placental pathology the results have important implications for how results in placental disease (and perhaps other organs) can be influenced by sampling methods.The increase in HSP 70 in labor and preeclampsia at precise zones suggests that there is a controlled spatial change in HSP 70 expression. The physiological and pathological significance of this remains to be elucidated but oxidative stress is the common link. Oxidative stress occurs when the production of reactive oxygen species overwhelms the intrinsic anti-oxidant defenses. The main components of the HSP 70 family are HSP 72 (HSP 70i) (induced during cell stress) and HSP 73 (HSC 70) which is constitutively expressed in all cells. Both have very similar amino acid sequences. Both are involved in translocation of proteins from the cytosol into the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria and in protein folding during and after synthesis [14,15]. Under nonstressful conditions constitutively expressed members of each HSP family are found in almost all organelles including the nucleus, cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. By interacting with proteins and peptides they play an important role in cell and organ survival. HSPs are induced in response to cell stresses including heat shock, oxidative stress, ultraviolet radiation, ischemia-reperfusion injury, viral infections, nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, physical damage, ischemia and chemicals. Two mechFigure 8. Shows HSP 70 expression in three different placenta zones for all patients in the labor group (n = 6 patients) (upper panel). Quantification was performed using the BioRad documentation ECL imager system. The lower panel shows the relationship between protein loading and signal obtained. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054540.gHSP70 is Upregulated in Labor and Preeclampsialabor and it has been proposed that this inflammatory action of a usually anti-inflammatory cytokine might accelerate parturition and delivery [17]. Apoptosis has been implicated in both preeclampsia and labor. In the apoptotic pathway, HSPs act at several stages to prevent cell death initiated by stress-induced damage. For example HSP 70 inhibits caspase 3 and 9. Thus it is possible HSP 70 acts to keep the rate of apoptosis in check [14,15,16]. Secreted HSPs, including HSP 70, can take part in immune surveillance. They can capture antigens and interact with receptors on antigen presenting cells. HSP 70 can bind to, and activate, human monocytes, inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-10 [18]. Previous publications of HSP 70 expression in the placenta and changes during adverse pregnancy have not controlled for sampling and the confounding effects of labor. These studies can be summarized as follows and unless stated otherwise controlling for labor or sampling site was not done. Shah et al [19] used immunohistochemistry to assess HSP 70 expression in paraffin sections of placentae from normal term pregnancies and reported immunostaining on cell types, both in cytoplasm and nucleus. Site of sampling or labor was not assessed. An immunohistochemical study of HSP 70 expression in pre-term labor, term labor, term non-labor and pre-term cesarean section for preeclampsia or intra uterine growth retardation found no changes in HSP 70 expression on amniochorio.