Why does this happen? The answer, they hypothesized, might be found by looking at a protein known as A20, encoded by the gene with the same name.Ī20 is sometimes hailed as the gatekeeper of inflammatory responses, and the protein has a complex relationship with the NF-κB signaling pathway. But when the body temperature is elevated over 37☌ (98.6☏), it tends to become more intense. The researchers note that NF-κB activity tends to slow down the lower the body temperature. These proteins respond to the presence of viral or bacterial molecules in the system, and that is when they start switching relevant genes related to the immune response on and off at cellular level.ĭysregulated NF-κB activity has been linked with the presence of autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis, irritable bowel diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis. NF-κB are proteins that help to regulate gene expression and the production of certain immune cells. Their findings, which appear in PNAS, reveal that higher body temperatures drive the activity of certain proteins that, in turn, switch genes responsible for the body’s immune response on and off, as required.Ī signaling pathway called Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) plays an important role in the body’s inflammation response in the context of infection or disease. David Rand and Mike White led teams of mathematicians and biologists to understand what happens at cellular level when fever takes hold. So say researchers hailing from two academic institutions in the United Kingdom: the University of Warwick in Coventry and the University of Manchester. In fact, an elevated body temperature triggers cellular mechanisms that ensure the immune system takes appropriate action against the offending virus or bacteria. But fevers are not just a byproduct of the immune response. Mild fevers are a good indication that the immune system is doing its job. However, fevers are not always a bad sign. This may drive many people to seek natural or over-the-counter remedies to treat it. When a person has the flu, for instance, they may experience a mild and uncomfortable fever.
Larger increases in body temperature to around 39.5☌ (103.1☏) count as a high fever. When someone’s body temperature rises to about 38☌ (100.4☏0, doctors classify it as a slight fever.
But when faced with an infection or virus, body temperature often goes up, resulting in a fever.
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