Abstract
When HeLa cells are exposed to brief heat shock at 45 degrees C there is a reduction in the cellular level of Na+K+ATPase. Return of the cells to the normal growth temperature of 37 degrees C leads to a partial restoration of enzyme activity. The pattern of this recovery of activity suggests that it may be associated with the induction of heat shock proteins. Indeed other means of heat shock protein induction such as continuous heat treatment at 42 degrees C, or treatment of cells at 37 degrees C with sodium arsenite, leads to elevated levels of Na+K+ATPase activity and alterations in the kinetic properties of the enzyme. Continuous hyperthermia at 42 degrees C led to increased lactate production which could be blocked with ouabain suggesting that effects on Na+K+ATPase activity could partly influence glycolysis. A number of other human and hamster cells also showed increased lactate production at 42 degrees C and also an inhibition of lactate production by ouabain. Whilst incubation of HeLa cells with cyanide had little effect on glycolysis at 37 degrees C elevation of the temperature to 42 degrees C (or 45 degrees C), in the presence of cyanide, impaired glycolysis. The possible role in this phenomenon, of an unusual oxygen-sensitive isoenzyme of lactate dehydrogenase, expressed in human cancers, is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burdon, R., Kerr, S., Cutmore, C. et al. Hyperthermia, Na+K+ATPase and lactic acid production in some human tumour cells. Br J Cancer 49, 437–445 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1984.70
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1984.70
This article is cited by
-
Short-term treadmill exercise in a cold environment does not induce adrenal Hsp72 and Hsp25 expression
The Journal of Physiological Sciences (2017)
-
Anticancer efficacies of doxorubicin, verapamil and quercetin on FM3A cells under hyperthermic temperature
Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering (2004)