Thermo-tolerance

Abstract

It is known that cells acquire a transient resistance to heat when cells are treated with a pre-mild heat. This phenomenon is so-called thermo-tolerance. Thermo-tolerance restricts the effectiveness of hyperthermia and combined therapy of hyperthermia and radio-therapy. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are reported to play important roles in thermo-tolerance of cells. However, the details of the molecular mechanism in which HSPs restore or repair proteins are still unknown. This chapter proposes possible molecular mechanisms which might play a role in heat sensitivity and thermo-tolerance.