Abstract: Heat stroke is a life-threatening illness that affects all segments of society. The etiology of the long-term consequences of this syndrome remains poorly understood such that preventive/treatment strategies are needed to mitigate its debilitating effects. Cytokines are important modulators of the acute phase response to stress, infection and inflammation. Despite several studies implicating cytokines in heat stroke pathophysiology, few studies have examined the protective effect(s) of cytokine antagonism on the morbidity and mortality of heat stroke. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved proteins that function as molecular chaperones for denatured proteins and reciprocally modulate cytokine production in response to stressful stimuli. A complex pathway of interactions between cytokines, HSPs and endotoxin is thought to be occurring in vivo in the orchestration of the APR to heat injury. This chapter provides an overview of current knowledge regarding cytokine, HSP and endotoxin interactions in heat stroke. Insight is provided into the potential therapeutic benefits of cytokine neutralization for mitigation of heat stroke morbidity and mortality based on our current understanding of their role in this syndrome.
| Limitations: |
 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE |
| Description: |
Book chapter |
| Pages: |
45 |
| Report Date: |
2007 |
| Report Number: |
A868674 |
|
|
|
|
Keywords relating to this report:
