Heat shock treatment of macrophages causes increased release of superoxide anion

Heat shock treatment of murine macrophages and the J774 cell line resulted in an enhanced capacity to release superoxide anion (O2-) upon stimulation. There was no concomitant increase in hydrogen peroxide production, and the macrophage microbicidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex, and Staphylococcus aureus was not altered.