Heat shock protein 20 (Hsp20) is one of the 10 members of the small heat shock protein family, which are upregulated under stress conditions and have been suggested to play a critical role in cell survival.1 Hsp20 is ubiquitously expressed and is highly abundant in cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscles.1 The levels of Hsp20 are increased in cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and heart failure,2 which may represent a potential cardioprotective mechanism. This evidence concerns the gene HSPB6 and heart failure.