Chapter 1 Changes in the Immune System During and After Spaceflight

Taylor, Gerald R.; Konstantinova, Irena; Sonnenfeld, Gerald; Jennings, Richard

doi:10.1016/s1569-2574(08)60076-3

Cited by 108 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Whether we are considering the true weightlessness of deep space or the microgravity observed in low-Earth orbit, it would be reasonable to predict that the microgravityinduced decrease in stress on the surface of microorganisms might affect the gene expression and physiology of both commensal and pathogenic organisms. For successful space travel, it is critical to address this issue, since studies have suggested that spaceflight negatively impacts the immune system in both humans and animals (65,94), which would lead to an increased risk of infectious disease.…”

Section: Effects Of Microgravity On Microbial Responses: Experiments mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As mentioned above, spaceflight has the capacity to alter immune system function in a manner which suggests a decreased ability to mount a robust immune response to infection (65,94). In addition, inherent in the habitation of spacecraft and space stations is exposure to microbes in a closed, selfcontained environment with little to no ability to quarantine a serious infectious-disease outbreak, should one occur.…”

Section: Responses Of Bacteria To Lsmmgmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microbial Responses to Microgravity and Other Low-Shear Environments

Nickerson

Ott

Wilson

et al. 2004

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

320

348

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Microbial adaptation to environmental stimuli is essential for survival. While several of these stimuli have been studied in detail, recent studies have demonstrated an important role for a novel environmental parameter in which microgravity and the low fluid shear dynamics associated with microgravity globally regulate microbial gene expression, physiology, and pathogenesis. In addition to analyzing fundamental questions about microbial responses to spaceflight, these studies have demonstrated important applications for microbial responses to a ground-based, low-shear stress environment similar to that encountered during spaceflight. Moreover, the low-shear growth environment sensed by microbes during microgravity of spaceflight and during ground-based microgravity analogue culture is relevant to those encountered during their natural life cycles on Earth. While no mechanism has been clearly defined to explain how the mechanical force of fluid shear transmits intracellular signals to microbial cells at the molecular level, the fact that cross talk exists between microbial signal transduction systems holds intriguing possibilities that future studies might reveal common mechanotransduction themes between these systems and those used to sense and respond to low-shear stress and changes in gravitation forces. The study of microbial mechanotransduction may identify common conserved mechanisms used by cells to perceive changes in mechanical and/or physical forces, and it has the potential to provide valuable insight for understanding mechanosensing mechanisms in higher organisms. This review summarizes recent and future research trends aimed at understanding the dynamic effects of changes in the mechanical forces that occur in microgravity and other low-shear environments on a wide variety of important microbial parameters

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Section: Effects Of Microgravity On Microbial Responses: Experiments mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Responses Of Bacteria To Lsmmgmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Responses to Microgravity and Other Low-Shear Environments

Nickerson

Ott

Wilson

et al. 2004

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

320

348

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In contrast, the 9-day mission had the fewest crew members (one of five) identified with band neutrophils in peripheral blood samples. The 14-day mission also had a high number (four of five) of crew members with band neutrophils in the peripheral blood, although the typical number per crew member was approximately 1000 cells/mm 3 . Overall, immature band neutrophils were seen in 9 of 16 (56%) of the astronauts.…”

Section: Leukocyte Subsets and Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Leukocyte subsets and neutrophil function after short-term spaceflight

Stowe

Sams

Mehta³

et al. 1999

Journal of Leukocyte Biology

137

102

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Changes in leukocyte subpopulations and function after spaceflight have been observed but the mechanisms underlying these changes are not well defined. This study investigated the effects of short-term spaceflight (8-15 days) on circulating leukocyte subsets, stress hormones, immunoglobulin levels, and neutrophil function. At landing, a 1.5-fold increase in neutrophils was observed compared with preflight values; lymphocytes were slightly decreased, whereas the results were variable for monocytes. No significant changes were observed in plasma levels of immunoglobulins, cortisol, or adrenocorticotropic hormone. In contrast, urinary epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol were significantly elevated at landing. Band neutrophils were observed in 9 of 16 astronauts. Neutrophil chemotactic assays showed a 10-fold decrease in the optimal dose response after landing. Neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells was increased both before and after spaceflight. At landing, the expression of MAC-1 was significantly decreased while L-selectin was significantly increased. These functional alterations may be of clinical significance on long-duration space missions. J. Leukoc. Biol. 65: 179-186; 1999.

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“…Immune system dysregulation has been documented in astronauts during and after space flight (24)(25)(26)(27)(28). Space flight has been shown to result in suppression of antigen-specific T cell function, altered T cell memory subset distribution, altered cytokine production profiles, decreased delayed-type hypersensitivity, and herpesvirus reactivation (29,30). Physical and psychological stress (i.e., launch and landing stressors, microgravity, confinement, separation from family, and sleep deprivation) mediate these changes, presumably via activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%