Thermotolerance in human glioma cells

Abstract

Human glioma cells held in plateau phase were tested for the development of chronic and acute thermotolerance. Long duration, mild hyperthermia at 39–42°C for up to 48 h showed no development of chronic thermotolerance. Heating at 45°C immediately after mild hyperthermia showed that acute thermotolerance did develop for 40–42°C heating. This thermotolerance developed at about the same rate for the three inducing temperatures (40–42°C) but the decay characteristics were temperature dependent. In fact, for 42°C heating thermosensitization to subsequent 45°C heating was achieved after 48 h of heating. These data show that chronic and acute thermotolerance may be different in human glioma cells.

Key Words:

• Hyperthermia
• glioma
• thermotolerance