Enhancement of human lymphocyte responses to phytomitogens in vitro by incubation at elevated temperatures

Incubation of human lymphocytes with PHA or Con A at 39 degrees C for 3 days caused a consistent, statistically significant, increase in [3H]thymidine uptake, compared with cultures incubated at 37 degrees C. The responses were also significantly increased after 2 days of incubation, suggesting that hyperthermia not only enhanced, but also caused an earlier onset of the mitogen response.