Heatstroke induces a reduction of natural killer cell activity in rats

• Published in: Journal of thermal biology Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 447 - 453
• Main Authors: Won, S.J., Huang, H.F., Lin, M.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-10-1999
• Subjects: Heatstroke; Interleukin-1; Natural killer cell activity; Rat; Heatstroke; Interleukin-1; Natural killer cell activity; Rat
• ISSN: 0306-4565; 1879-0992
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-4565(99)00092-3

Experiments were carried out to determine the changes of natural killer (NK) cell activity that occurred during heatstroke in rats pretreated with or without interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). After the onset of heatstroke, all the splenic NK cell activity, the effector-target cell conjugation, and the NK cell numbers were decreased in rats. Additionally, an increase in the plasma IL-1 level was associated with arterial hypotension, cerebral ischemia and hyperthermia during rat heatstroke. Pretreatment with an IL-1ra reversed in part the heatstroke-induced inhibition of NK cell activity. Thus it appears that the inhibition of NK cell activity produced by activation of IL-1 receptor mechanism is associated with the increased susceptibility to infection that is well described in heatstroke.