As global temperatures rise and heat waves become more frequent, reliance on air conditioning has increased. A recent study suggests that low temperatures can significantly impact cancerous tumors, potentially offering a new treatment method and influencing how we set our air conditioners.
Low temperatures and their impact on the body
A recent article in the academic journal Nature highlights a study on the effects of temperature on the body. The research team, led by Professor Yi-Hai Cao from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, discovered that low temperatures activate brown fat cells in the body. These cells consume energy and generate heat, competing with tumor cells for glucose, thereby inhibiting the growth of various tumors.
In the study, mice with colorectal cancer tumors were placed in environments at 4°C and 30°C. The mice in the 4°C environment showed a significant reduction in tumor growth and a lower rate of cell proliferation within the tumor tissue. This resulted in doubling their lifespan compared to the mice in the 30°C environment. The same inhibitory effect was observed in other types of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, and fibrosarcoma, indicating the broad applicability of low-temperature therapy.
To observe these changes, the research team used positron emission tomography (PET) scans to analyze the distribution of cancer cells. They found that glucose accumulated in the brown fat areas at 4°C, significantly reducing its presence in tumor regions. Additionally, the metabolic byproducts of glycolysis in tumor tissues decreased, while brown fat tissue increased, showing more small, multilocular structures, higher mitochondrial content, and increased microvascular density.
The inhibitory effect disappeared when the brown fat tissue was removed from the mice or the UCP1 gene responsible for heat production was deleted. This proves that brown fat suppresses tumors in a cold environment. However, excessive glucose intake could negate this effect, highlighting the need for balanced glucose levels.
Applying low-temperature therapy to humans
Can this therapy be effective in humans? The research team conducted preliminary tests with six healthy male and female participants aged 22 to 25 and an 18-year-old Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient who had undergone chemotherapy.
The six healthy participants wore short sleeves and shorts during the experiment and spent 2 to 6 hours daily in a 16°C environment for two weeks. PET scans revealed that their brown fat in areas like the neck, collarbone, and sternum was activated, though individual differences were noted. This confirmed that 16°C could also awaken brown fat in young adults.
For the young Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient, a one-week experiment in a 22°C environment showed activation of brown fat tissue and a significant reduction in glucose signals in the mediastinal lymphoma area. These findings offer hope for the potential of low-temperature therapy, suggesting that further research and experiments could provide valuable insights into how temperature affects the body and inform air conditioning usage in daily life.
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