[Cellular and humoral immunity in general exogenous hyperthermia]

The proliferative activity of splenic cells (SC) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and alloantigens, as well as the immune response to sheep red cells (SRS) were investigated in mice undergoing hyperthermia. There was an increase in the proliferative activity of SC to mitogens and alloantigens in mice having a rectal temperature of 42 degrees C once. The thermal shock was accompanied by the suppression of proliferative responses of SB to mitogens and alloantigens in mice. There was a decreased immune response of lymphocytes to SRC in the mice. The suppression of proliferative activities of lymphocytes to mitogens and alloantigens was found at days 10-30 in mice undergoing hyperthermia (43-44 degrees C) for 20 minutes daily. There was a lower immune response to SRC in mice at days 5-20. No changes of immune responses were found on day 40 post-induction of hyperthermia in mice.