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A ground-based model to study the effects of weightlessness on lymphocytes
F K Gmünder1, M Kiess, G Sonnefeld
1Institute of Biotechnology, Space Biology Group, ETH-Zürich, Switzerland.
Biology of the Cell
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Spaceflight conditions reduce human lymphocyte response. Reduced cell adhesion and spreading on surfaces in microgravity may explain this, impacting immune cell function and interferon-gamma production.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Space Medicine
Background:
- Microgravity exposure during spaceflight is known to suppress human immune responses.
- Lymphocyte activation and proliferation are critical for adaptive immunity.
- Cellular adhesion and spreading on surfaces are essential for many cell functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of substratum adhesiveness in lymphocyte responsiveness.
- To determine if reduced cell adhesion in microgravity contributes to suppressed lymphocyte function.
- To explore the impact of cell spreading on lymphocyte proliferation and interferon-gamma production.
Main Methods:
- Simulated microgravity effects by using poly-HEMA to reduce cell adhesion on surfaces.
- Assessed lymphocyte adhesiveness using 51Cr-radiolabelled cells.
- Measured cell spreading area and quantified mitogenic response and interferon-gamma production.
Main Results:
- Reduced substratum adhesiveness significantly decreased lymphocyte spreading and proliferation.
- Lymphocytes grown on low-adhesion poly-HEMA films showed up to 68% reduced mitogenic response compared to controls.
- Interferon-gamma production was negligible on the least adhesive surfaces.
Conclusions:
- Lymphocyte activation, proliferation, and interferon-gamma production are dependent on cell adhesion and spreading.
- Decreased lymphocyte adhesion in microgravity is a likely contributor to the observed suppression of immune function during spaceflight.