Mitochondrial response to fever boosts TH1-driven inflammatory responses

Increased body temperature, both locally and systemically, is a key feature of the inflammatory response. Heat is associated with increased blood flow to affected areas and increased immune infiltrate, yet increased temperature has also been described to have direct effects on immune cell function. In a recent study, Heintzman, et al investigated the effect of febrile temperature (39 °C) on T cell function. They describe increased T_H1 function and fitness accompanied by a decrease in regulatory T cell suppressive function. These findings add another important consequence to our understanding of fever responses.