Vanderbilt Researchers Discover How Fevers Affect Immune Cells and Cancer Risk

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre have found that fever temperatures can increase immune cell activity but also cause stress and damage to certain T cells. The study, published in Science Immunology, explains how cells respond to heat and how chronic inflammation might lead to cancer.

Key Findings

Jeff Rathmell, PhD, and his team discovered that fever temperatures boost the metabolism and activity of helper T cells but also cause mitochondrial stress and DNA damage in a subgroup of these cells, known as Th1 cells. Some Th1 cells die, while others adapt and become more resilient.

Personal Motivation

Graduate student Darren Heintzman was inspired to study fevers due to his father’s autoimmune disease, which caused a prolonged fever. Heintzman found that higher temperatures increased the activity of helper T cells but decreased the suppressive capacity of regulatory T cells.

Unexpected Discoveries

The researchers were surprised to find that Th1 cells, which are crucial during infections, experienced significant stress and damage. However, the surviving cells adapted and became more effective at fighting infections.

Implications for Cancer

The study suggests that chronic inflammation and sustained high temperatures can lead to DNA damage and potentially cancer. Up to 25% of cancers are linked to chronic inflammation, making this research crucial for understanding cancer development.

Conclusion

Rathmell summarized the findings by saying, “A little bit of fever is good, but a lot of fever is bad.” This research provides a mechanism for understanding why prolonged fevers can be harmful.