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Research progress on the protective effects of heat acclimation on the cardiovascular system and its molecular mechanisms

LI Guo-Yu, GUO Feng, WANG Zhuo, HUANG Yue^*

College of Exercise and Health, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang 110102, China

Abstract

Heat acclimation provides cardiovascular protection in high-temperature environments through multilevel mechanisms; however, the complete molecular basis of its effects remains unclear. In this paper, we systematically review the effects of heat acclimation on blood volume, vascular function, cardiac structure, energy metabolism, and anti-stress regulation, revealing their potential mechanisms in cardiovascular adaptive protection. We also summarizes the multilevel responses induced by heat stress and heat acclimation, including the modulatory effects of heat acclimation on heat shock proteins (HSPs), hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), and apoptotic pathways. Additionally, we highlights the comprehensive protective effects of heat acclimation across various stressors (e.g., hypoxia, heat stress). This review provides a significant physiological basis for cardiovascular disease management and sports medicine, emphasizing the potential application of heat acclimation in response to multiple stressors and supporting its role as an effective tool in cardiovascular health management and stress protection interventions.

Key words: heat acclimation; heart; cardiovascular protection; heat shock proteins

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 黄悦　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0050

Citing This Article：

LI Guo-Yu, GUO Feng, WANG Zhuo, HUANG Yue. Research progress on the protective effects of heat acclimation on the cardiovascular system and its molecular mechanisms. Acta Physiol Sin 2025; 77 (5): 820-838 (in Chinese with English abstract).