Exogenous heat shock proteins may modify cell behavior of infected epithelium. The effect of heat shock protein 60 (hsp60) of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Escherichia coli, and human recombinant hsp60 on migration of HaCaT skin keratinocytes was studied using the Boyden chamber assay. Hsp60 from different species increased cell migration by two- to fivefold and this effect was inhibited by ERK inhibitor PD 98059, p38 inhibitor SB 203580, and a function-blocking epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody. Hsp60 reduced the expression of alpha6-integrin mRNA and its protein levels on the cell surface but had no effect on the expression of beta4, beta1, alpha1, alpha5 or alphanu integrin subunits. Hsp60 also significantly inhibited cell adhesion to laminin-5, a ligand of alpha6beta4 integrin. These results suggest that exogenous hsp60 released from bacteria or inflammatory cells may promote epithelial cell migration through activation of EGFR and MAP kinases, and inhibition of alpha6beta4 integrin expression. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.