['To determine whether the human leukocyte antigen linked biallelic heat-shock protein 70-2 (HSP70-2) gene polymorphism is associated with variable HSP70-2 messenger RNA expression.', 'Prospective observational study in consecutive healthy blood donors.', 'Department of Anesthesiology, laboratory for molecular biology in a university hospital.', '24 healthy blood donors.', 'None.', 'We studied the functional implication of the HSP70-2 (G/A) PstI gene polymorphism in 24 healthy, white blood donors with various HSP70-2 (G/A) genotypes by analyzing the endotoxin-inducible HSP70-2 mRNA expression by means of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. HSP70 expression was expressed semiquantitatively by calculating the ratio of HSP70-2 mRNA and the constitutively expressed glutaraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA. No significant differences in HSP70-2 mRNA expression after lipopolysaccharide (from Salmonella minnesota Re 595) stimulation were detected in individuals homozygous for the allele A (0.68, range 0.38-1, n = 10), in individuals homozygous for the allele G (0.79, range 0.42-1.1, n = 8), and in heterozygotes (HSP70-2 G/A; 0.52, range 0.4-0.67, n = 6; p > 0.05).'] Does the Pstl polymorphism of the endotoxin-inducible heat-shock protein 70-2 gene affect messenger RNA level in human whole-blood cultures?