The effect of passive heating on heat shock protein 70 and interleukin-6: A possible treatment tool for metabolic diseases?

Abstract

Increasing physical activity remains the most widely publicized way of improving health and wellbeing. However, in populations that benefit most from exercise (EX), adherence is often poor and alternatives to EX are important to bring about health improvements. Recent work suggests a role for passive heating (PH) and heat shock proteins (HSP) in improving cardio-metabolic health. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of HSP70 and interleukin-6 in response to either EX or PH and the subsequent effect on glucose control. Fourteen males volunteered and were categorized lean (BMI 23.5 § 2.2 kg¢m ¡2 ) or overweight (29.2 § 2.7 kg¢m ¡2 ) and completed 60 minutes of either moderate cycling at a fixed rate of metabolic heat production (EX) or warm water immersion in 40 C water (PH). Extracellular HSP70 increased from baseline in both conditions with no differences between PH (0.98 § 1.1 ng¢mL ¡1 ) or EX (0.84 § 1.0 ng¢mL ¡1 , p D 0.814). IL-6 increased following both conditions with a two-fold increase after PH and four-fold after EX. Energy expenditure increased by 61.0 § 14.4 kcal¢h ¡1 (79%) after PH. Peak glucose concentration after a meal immediately following PH was reduced when compared with EX (6.3 § 1.4 mmol¢L ¡1 versus 6.8 § 1.2 mmol¢L ¡1 ; p < 0.05). There was no difference in 24-hour glucose area under the curve (AUC) between conditions. These data indicate the potential for thermal therapy as an alternative treatment and management strategy for those at risk of developing metabolic disease where adherence, or ability to EX, may be compromised.

Passive heat therapy protects against endothelial cell hypoxia‐reoxygenation via effects of elevations in temperature and circulating factors

“…; Faulkner et al . ), which was also observed in the present study (on average, an ∼2‐fold increase). [IL‐6] was also increased following exposure to sera collected following the first hot water immersion session (Acute HT).…”

“…For example, IL-6 is elevated acutely following exercise and is thought to mediate adaptation to exercise training (Pedersen & Fischer, 2007). Similarly, IL-6 has been shown to be elevated following acute hot water immersion (Leicht et al 2015;Faulkner et al 2017), which was also observed in the present study (on average, an ß2-fold increase). was also increased following exposure to sera collected following the first hot water immersion session (Acute HT).…”

Longitudinal associations of sauna bathing with inflammation and oxidative stress: the KIHD prospective cohort study

“…(7,19,20) The effects of other types of passive heat therapy such as Waon therapy, infrared-ray saunas, warm water immersion, and Turkish baths on inflammation and oxidative stress have been reported in several studies. (21)(22)(23)(24)(25) A number of studies have also suggested that exposure to Finnish sauna may be associated with alteration in concentrations of essential markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. (26)(27)(28)(29) However, these previous findings were however based on short-term effects of sauna exposure or cross-sectional associations.…”

Could Heat Therapy Be an Effective Treatment for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases? A Narrative Review

“…In human whole-body passive heating models, such as hot water immersion of >60 min whereby core body temperature is increased, higher extracellular HSP70 concentration (Faulkner et al, 2017), and intracellular HSP70 changes (Oehler et al, 2001), have been reported. The beneficial response once again is not unanimous, with others reporting chronic change (following 2 weeks of repeated therapy) in intracellular HSP70 after 45-60 min of passive heat therapy (Hoekstra et al, 2018).…”

“…Several mechanistic pathways may underpin these adaptations, including improved cellular respiration , circulating factors (Brunt et al, 2019), and vascular shear stress (Tinken et al, 2009;Thomas et al, 2016). The upregulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) as a result of acute and/or chronic (repeated) exposure to passive heating is also an adaptive outcome, which may provide a specific mechanistic pathway for improving health and function within the body (Faulkner et al, 2017;Brunt et al, 2018).…”