Cell death, or more accurately, the temperature at which cell death occurs, depends on several factors, including the type of cell and the mechanism of death. There isn't one single temperature that causes instant cell death across all cell types.
Different Temperatures for Different Death Mechanisms
Two main types of cell death are relevant here: necrosis and apoptosis.
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Necrosis: This is a form of cell death caused by external factors, such as injury or extreme temperatures. Necrosis typically occurs at temperatures of 50°C or higher (as indicated by multiple sources like this study and this research).
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Apoptosis: This is a programmed form of cell death, often part of a normal biological process. Apoptosis can be induced by heat, but it generally occurs at temperatures in the range of 43-50°C [20,21,22]—https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/32/3/915. Studies have shown this in heat-treated LX-1 and HepG2 cells https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22399612/.
Other mechanisms, such as necroptosis, are also influenced by temperature. Research has shown that temperature-dependent necroptosis plays a significant role in melanoma cell death https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-26978-1.
It is important to note that even within a specific temperature range, the time it takes for cell death to occur varies greatly depending on other factors like cell type and the intensity of the heat. The speed and mechanism of cell death due to heat are also dependent on the duration of exposure to the higher temperature.
Additionally, studies show a direct link between temperature-dependent cell death and various applications, like improving the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in cancer treatment https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22399612/. Hyperthermia in the 40-47°C range also kills cells in a predictable manner https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02656730701769841.
