Heat shock protein beta-8 (HSPB8), also known as HSP22, member of the small heat shock protein superfamily. HSPB8 is predominantly transcribed in skeletal muscle and heart. The chaperone-like activity is of great importance to the function of HSPB8 in various processes including proliferation, apoptosis and macroautophagy. Mutations in the HSPB8 gene are associated with the inherited peripheral neuropathies, autosomal dominant distal hereditary motor neuropathy type IIA (dSMA) and axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2L (CMT2L).