Heat-toxicity

“Heat-toxicity” refers broadly to the harmful effects that occur when tissues are exposed to excessive temperatures. This can result from environmental exposure (e.g., heat waves), medical conditions impairing thermoregulation, or iatrogenic causes such as overheating during medical procedures. At the cellular level, high temperatures can denature proteins and disrupt cell membranes. Cells respond by upregulating protective molecules known as heat shock proteins, such as Hsp70[1][2]. These proteins act as chaperones—helping refold damaged proteins and prevent aggregation—but they themselves are *not* referred to as “heat-toxicity.” Instead, they represent part of the cell’s defense against it[1][2]. Severe cases lead to systemic inflammatory responses and multi-organ dysfunction. In summary, “heat-toxicity” does *not* refer to any single protein/receptor/molecule but instead denotes pathological consequences resulting from thermal stress at the organismal level[1][2].

Other names

Heat stressHyperthermia-induced toxicityThermal injury