Heat-induced thermal tolerance and radiation resistance to apoptosis in human lymphocytes

We have investigated heat- and radiation-induced apoptosis in human lymphocytes in vitro. We have previously shown that apoptosis was induced by radiation at doses as low as 0.05 Gy. Here we report that heat induced apoptosis in human lymphocytes in a temperature- and time-dependent manner. Temperatures at or below 42 degrees C, for up to 90 min, did not cause lymphocytes to undergo apoptosis, whereas temperatures at or above 43 degrees C, for …