A unified model for cell-killing by heat: interpretation of continuous, step-down, step-up and split heating

We have already proposed a model for the lethal effects of heat on cells. In the model, a three-step process for cellular inactivation was hypothesized: 1) heating produces sublethal damage; 2) the damage is repaired in a certain time period; 3) the cell is inactivated when it undergoes cumulative sublethal damage to the extent that it cannot be repaired. Using the previous model, we investigated the modifications of the survival curve in 1) continuous heating, 2) step-down heating, 3) step-up heating, and 4) recovery from the thermal injury by split heating. These four phenomena were explained well with the mathematical model.