MDMA Administration and Heat Shock Proteins Response: Foreseeing a Molecular Link

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of MDMA-induced toxicity have been extensively studied in a number ofexperimental models. Nevertheless, only few studies investigated the involvement of HSPs (“molecular chaperones”) inMDMA organs toxicity. In the present minireview we highlight this subject analysing the results of these studies conductedespecially on brain tissue. Despite of it seems obvious that HSPs overexpression is a protective reaction againstMDMA treatment, the molecular mechanisms for exerting their action are far to be undiscovered. At the same time, weneed of comprehensive studies concerning the whole range of Hsps/chaperones expressions in all organs after acute andchronic administration of MDMA.