Fever drives enhanced activity, mitochondrial damage in immune cells

Fever temperatures rev up immune cell metabolism, proliferation and activity, but they also -- in a particular subset of T cells -- cause mitochondrial stress, DNA damage and cell death, researchers have discovered. The findings offer a mechanistic understanding for how cells respond to heat and could explain how chronic inflammation contributes to the development of cancer.

Fever temperatures rev up immune cell metabolism, proliferation and activity, but they also -- in a particular subset of T cells -- cause mitochondrial stress, DNA damage and cell death, researchers have discovered. The findings offer a mechanistic understanding for how cells respond to heat and could explain how chronic inflammation contributes to the development of cancer.

Read more https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240920160803.htm