title: The role of cytokines in heat stroke.
abstract: Heat stroke is a disease characterized by high fever. Cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-delta) play a major role in fever production. In the current studies, eight patients with heat stroke were enrolled in a cytokine studies. Serum cytokine levels of these patients were determined by EIA methods, and in vitro IL-1 and IL-1 inhibitor production were determined by murine thymocyte proliferation assay and/or EIA. Significantly high levels of circulating IL-1, TNF-delta, and IL-6 were demonstrated. Positive correlations were demonstrated between the body temperature and the level of IL-1 beta, and the cooling time and level of serum IL-1 beta. In addition, monocytes from heat stroke patients after complete recovery, secreted a much higher amount of IL-1 than did normal volunteers. However, there was no difference in IL-1 inhibitor production. These results indicate that cytokines may play a major role in the pathogenesis of heat stroke, and the ability to make different amounts of IL-1 in response to exogenous stimulation appear to be risk factors for an attack of heat stroke.
authors.affiliation: Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006359:Heat Exhaustion / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha