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Summary
Fever may not benefit mammals by increasing body temperature and aerobic capacity. Instead, the temperature increase during fever might actually impair the host's immune defenses against disease.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Immunology
- Comparative Biology
Background:
- Ectotherms utilize fever to enhance aerobic capacity and fight infection.
- Mammals maintain high body temperatures and aerobic capacity, questioning fever's benefit.
- Interleukin-1 (IL-1) induces fever, potentially increasing dangerous aerobic capacity in mammals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the uncertain function of fever in mammals.
- To determine if fever's temperature increase benefits or harms mammalian immune defense.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing evidence on fever, temperature, and immune response in mammals.
- Analysis of the effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) on mammalian physiology during fever.
Main Results:
- Fever-induced temperature increases may not be necessary for mammalian defense due to their inherent high aerobic capacity.
- Evidence suggests that while fever's neuroendocrine responses aid defense, the elevated temperature itself may be detrimental.
- Data on fever's precise role in mammals remains scarce and inconclusive.
Conclusions:
- The function of fever in mammals is still uncertain and requires further investigation.
- Elevated body temperature during fever in mammals might compromise immune defenses rather than enhance them.