Eukaryotic cells respond to hypothermic stress through a series of regulatory mechanisms that preserve energy resources and prolong cell survival. These mechanisms include alterations in gene expression, attenuated global protein synthesis and changes in the lipid composition of the phospholipid bilayer. Cellular responses to hyperthermia, hypoxia, nutrient deprivation and oxidative stress have been comprehensively investigated, but studies of the cellular response to cold stress are more limited. Responses to cold stress are however of great importance both in the wild, where exposure to low and fluctuating environmental temperatures is common, and in medical and biotechnology settings where cells and tissues are frequently exposed to hypothermic stress and cryopreservation. This means that it is vitally important to understand how cells are impacted by low temperatures and by the decreases and subsequent increases in temperature associated with cold stress. Here, we review the ways in which eukaryotic cells respond to hypothermic stress and how these compare to the well-described and highly integrated stress response systems that govern the cellular response to other types of stress.

真核细胞通过一系列保护能源和延长细胞存活的调节机制来应对低温应激。这些机制包括基因表达的改变、整体蛋白质合成的减弱以及磷脂双层的脂质组成的变化。细胞对高温、缺氧、营养缺乏和氧化应激的反应已得到全面研究，但细胞对冷应激的反应的研究较为有限。然而，无论是在野外（经常暴露于低温且波动的环境温度下）还是在医疗和生物技术环境中（细胞和组织经常暴露于低温应激和低温保存下），对冷应激的反应都非常重要。这意味着了解细胞如何受到低温以及与冷应激相关的温度降低和随后升高的影响至关重要。在这里，我们回顾了真核细胞对低温应激的反应方式，以及它们与控制细胞对其他类型应激反应的充分描述和高度集成的应激反应系统的比较。