TY - THES
T1 - Consequences of spaceflight stressors on cell-mediated immunity
AU - Deckers, Sebastiaan
AU - Van Walleghem, Merel
A2 - Baatout, Sarah
N1 - Score=2
PY - 2015/6/9
Y1 - 2015/6/9
N2 - Immune studies in space have shown that during space travel the immune system can be weakened. However, the impact of specific spaceflight-associated factors is not yet fully understood. We investigated the effect of simulated microgravity (s-µG) on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and its potential modulation through stress hormones using the in vitro Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) assay. This assay was performed under s-µG using the Random Positioning Machine (RPM). Due to the random 3D movement during µG simulation, closed tubes need to be used to prevent leakage. In a first step, the influence of s-µG and the use of closed cryotubes on the viability of the immune cells in whole blood samples was assessed. Next, the individual and combined effects of s-µG and mental stress on the CMI were assessed by performing the in vitro DTH assay under s-µG with the addition of hydrocortisone. During this assay, the immune cells were exposed to different immunogenic challenges. Our results indicate that the viability of the immune cells is not greatly affected by s-µG and the use of closed tubes. Multiplex cytokine analysis showed changed cytokine profiles after exposure to s-µG compared to controls. In addition, a differential response was observed for different challenges.
AB - Immune studies in space have shown that during space travel the immune system can be weakened. However, the impact of specific spaceflight-associated factors is not yet fully understood. We investigated the effect of simulated microgravity (s-µG) on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and its potential modulation through stress hormones using the in vitro Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) assay. This assay was performed under s-µG using the Random Positioning Machine (RPM). Due to the random 3D movement during µG simulation, closed tubes need to be used to prevent leakage. In a first step, the influence of s-µG and the use of closed cryotubes on the viability of the immune cells in whole blood samples was assessed. Next, the individual and combined effects of s-µG and mental stress on the CMI were assessed by performing the in vitro DTH assay under s-µG with the addition of hydrocortisone. During this assay, the immune cells were exposed to different immunogenic challenges. Our results indicate that the viability of the immune cells is not greatly affected by s-µG and the use of closed tubes. Multiplex cytokine analysis showed changed cytokine profiles after exposure to s-µG compared to controls. In addition, a differential response was observed for different challenges.
KW - Cell-mediated immunity
KW - microgravity
KW - stress hormones
KW - delayed-type hypersensitivity-assay
UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/ezp_139805
UR - http://knowledgecentre.sckcen.be/so2/bibref/12789
M3 - Master's thesis
PB - UHasselt - Universiteit Hasselt
CY - Diepenbeek, Belgium
ER -