Why a fever can be good for you
November 2, 2011
Richard J. Brennan
NATIONAL AFFAIRS WRITER
That low-grade fever that’s making you feel out of sorts may in fact be just what the doctor ordered, according to new research out of Buffalo.
Researchers at the department of immunology at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute have found that increasing body temperature slightly helps certain types of immune cells to work better.
“We are studying an elevation in body temperature that is similar to that that happens in fever,” researcher Elizabeth Repasky told the Toronto Star Wednesday.
While the trials have been conducted on mice so far, it’s expected that a human trial will start soon. Body temperature is increased by two degrees centigrade by putting subjects in a warm-air environment.
“There is a lot of interest in the medical application of simply elevating body temperature … it can actually enhance the effects of other drugs, cancer therapies, immuno therapies,” Repasky said.
Scientists found that elevated body temperature enhances the ability of certain types of T-cells to fight viruses and combat tumours.
“It seems to produce more T-cells, these are the kinds of cells that are very important for controlling infection but they are also the kind of cells that are important in controlling tumours,” Repasky told the Star.
“Having a fever might be uncomfortable,” John Wherry, deputy editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology said in a release, “but this research report and several others are showing that having a fever is part of an effective immune response.”
Repasky said heat treatment is attractive because it very inexpensive and broadly applicable, adding that at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute researchers simply use warm air.
“Very soon we are going to start having the first patients getting this therapy along with standard cancer therapies but our goal is to use immuno therapy,” she said, noting that patient studies could begin this year.
Featured Sponsored Listings