Immune status, latent viral reactivation, and stress during long-duration head-down bed rest
Crucian, B. E., et al. (2009). "Immune status, latent viral reactivation, and stress during long-duration head-down bed rest." Aviat Space Environ Med 80 5 Suppl: A37-44
INTRODUCTION: As logistical access for space research becomes more limited and NASA prepares for exploration-class missions, ground-based spaceflight analogs will increase in importance for biomedical countermeasures development. A monitoring of immune parameters was performed during the NASA Flight Analogs Project bed rest study (without countermeasure); to establish 'control' data against which future studies (with countermeasure) will be evaluated. Some of the countermeasures planned to be evaluated in future studies may impact immune function. METHODS: The immune assessment consisted of: leukocyte subset distribution, early T cell activation, intracellular cytokine profiles, latent viral reactivation, virus specific T cell levels and function, stress hormone levels, and a behavioral assessment using stress questionnaires. RESULTS: In general, subjects did not display altered peripheral leukocyte subsets, constitutive immune activation, altered T cell function, or significant latent viral reactivation (EBV, VZV). Levels of constitutively activated T cells (CD8+/CD69+) and virus-specific T cells (CMV and EBV) decreased during the study. Cortisol levels (plasma and saliva) did not vary significantly during 90-d bed rest. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the absence of significant immune system alteration and physiological stress during 90-d bed rest, and establish control data against which future studies (including countermeasures) may be compared.
Related URLs:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19476168
ISSN: 0095-6562 (Print) 0095-6562 (Linking)
DOI: 10.3357/ASEM.BR05.2009
Accession Number: 19476168