Involvement of heat shock proteins and cellular membranes in the development of thermotolerance.

A variety of cells subjected to hyperthermia acquire a transient increase in resistance (thermotolerance) to a subsequent heat treatment. The development of thermotolerance is nearly always accompanied by the presence of heat shock proteins (HSPs). However, other states of thermotolerance, some of which are independent of HSPs, have also been postulated. Recently, several studies have shown that cellular membranes, among other cellular structures, may be involved in the response of cells to heat and may constitute a target for the acquisition of thermal resistance.