Human cellular immune responsiveness following space flight

Aviat Space Environ Med. 1983 Dec;54(12 Pt 2):S55-9.

Abstract

Peripheral circulating lymphocytes were separated from astronaut blood samples three times before and two times after the first four US Space Shuttle flights. The ability of the in vitro T lymphocytes to respond to Phytohemagglutinin by blastogenesis was found to be reduced for each crewmember following spaceflight. In addition, the astronauts experienced a postflight increase in neutrophils and a decrease in eosinophils. These postflight changes in leukocytes are shown to increase with subjectively-evaluated increases in the incidence of inflight stress, indicating that stress, and not hypogravity, is likely to be the major effector of these changes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aerospace Medicine*
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Phytohemagglutinins
  • Space Flight*
  • Stress, Physiological / immunology
  • United States

Substances

  • Phytohemagglutinins