Modulation of the endocrine and immune systems by well-controlled hyperthermia equipment

Abstract

Since high levels of hyperthermia induce immunosuppression to a certain extent (i.e., granulocytosis and lymphocytopenia) in patients, we applied mild hyperthermia in volunteers using equipment enabling well-controlled hyperthermia. Restricted control of rectal temperature at 39.4 (± 0.2)°C for 30 min was conducted and various parameters of the body were examined. The most prominent change observed during exposure to hyperthermia was elevated levels of pH and PO 2 in the blood, even in the venous blood. A transient elevation of ACTH, cortisol and growth hormone in the blood was also seen during this time. In parallel with this phenomenon, the number of total lymphocytes and those of its subsets (especially CD57 + or CD56 + NK cells and NKT cells) increased. More interestingly, the proportion of HLA-DR (MHC class II antigens) increased in NK and NKT cells, and their intensity on the surface of CD20 + B cells increased. These results suggest that mild hyperthermia is important for modulation of the functions of the circulatory, endocrine and immune systems.It is widely known that hyperthermia induces the production of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and that such HSPs are able to induce immunopotentiation via the augmented expression of MHC class I or II antigens on lymphocytes and tissue cells (2, 3, 10, 15). Hyperthermia is therefore expected to have potential as cancer immunotherapy. Another strategy for use of hyperthermia in cancer therapy is based on the notion that cancer cells are sensitive to thermal stress, which results in apoptotic death (5,20,23). However, we have encountered severe granulocytosis and lymphocytopenia in patients or animals during the exposure to various types of stress, including hyperthermia (4,12,16,17). This experience is contrary to our expectation for immunopotentiation by hyperthermic therapy.In light of these findings, we conducted mild hyperthermia in volunteers using the "Thercura System," a well-controlled hyperthermia device. We found that restricted control of rectum temperature to 39.4 (± 0.2)°C for 30 min was able to induce a prominent potentiation of many parameters in the circulation, endocrine system and immune system. Especially, the immunopotentiation induced by the present protocol of mild hyperthermia seems to be of great value for cancer patients and other diseased persons for treatment of their decreased levels of the immune functions.

Skin rubdown with a dry towel, ^|^lsquo;kanpu-masatsu' is an aerobic exercise affecting body temperature, energy production, and the immune and autonomic nervous systems

“…4). served, due to the increase of PO 2 and sO 2 as seen in our previous studies (10,18,23). Of interest was the change in RBC conformation (Fig.…”

Alkalization of blood pH is responsible for survival of cancer patients by mild hyperthermia

“…In an earlier study, we showed that hyperthermia at the level up to 39.5°C (rectal temperature) for 30 min did not induce granulocytosis but rather induced immunopotentiation (14). In the present study, we applied this condition of hyperthermia for 6 cancer patients.…”

“…In addition to immunosuppression of lymphocytopenia, these conditions finally induce the onset of malignancy, namely, the external causes of cancer. In the course of these studies, we have applied hyperthermia and noticed that high temperature of hyperthermia (i.e., > 40°C) induced thermal stress rather than immunopotentiation (14). The maximum condition might be 39.5°C of rectal temperature for but that was low in Case 3 and 5.…”

“…The "Thercura System" is a big hot water bath equipped with a temperature control system (ThermoVision, Osaka, Japan) (14). This device is able to maintain the rectal temperature up to the range of 0.1°C.…”

“…Hyperthermia indeed ameliorates not only immune functions but also other physical conditions. In the course of these studies, we have noticed that hyperthermia (i.e., > 40°C) sometimes induced rather immunosuppression as a thermal stress (14). At this time, persons who experienced with hyperthermia showed granulocytosis and lymphocytopenia after the treatment.…”