The heat shock proteins (HSPs) comprise a group of highly conserved, abundantly expressed proteins with diverse functions, including the assembly and sequestering of multi-protein complexes, the transportation of nascent poly-peptide chains across cellular membranes and the regulation of protein folding. HSPA14 (heat shock 70kDa protein 14), also known as HSP70-4 or HSP70L1, is a 509 amino acid novel HSP protein derived from human dendritic cells. Belonging to the heat shock protein 70 family, HSPA14 is thought to promote dendritic cell maturation. It is also suggested that HSPA14 stimulates secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 12p70 (IL-12p70), IL-1β, TNFα, and the chemokines IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES).