The immune system in space and microgravity

Space flight and models that created conditions similar to those that occur during space flight have been shown to affect a variety of immunological responses. These have primarily been cell-mediated immune responses including leukocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and leukocyte subset distri...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2002-12, Vol.34 (12), p.2021-2027
Main Author: Sonnenfeld, Gerald
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Humans
Immune System - physiology
Life Sciences (General)
Space Flight
Weightlessness
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Space flight and models that created conditions similar to those that occur during space flight have been shown to affect a variety of immunological responses. These have primarily been cell-mediated immune responses including leukocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and leukocyte subset distribution. The mechanisms and biomedical consequences of these changes remain to be established. Among the possible causes of space flight-induced alterations in immune responses are exposure to microgravity, exposure to stress, exposure to radiation, and many more as yet undetermined causes. This review chronicles the known effects of space flight on the immune system and explores the possible role of stress in contributing to these changes.
ISSN:0195-9131
DOI:10.1097/00005768-200212000-00024