A recent study conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has shed light on how Weightlessness affects the T cells of the immune system. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, could provide insight into why astronauts experience decreased activity and effectiveness in their T cells when fighting infection.
As human missions to the moon and Mars become the next frontier in space exploration, it is crucial to understand how weightlessness impacts the immune system. Astronauts are susceptible to immune deficiency while in space, leaving them more vulnerable to infections and the reactivation of latent viruses upon their return to Earth.
The study employed a method called dry immersion to simulate weightlessness. Participants were immersed in a custom-made waterbed, tricking their bodies into perceiving weightlessness. Blood samples were collected from eight healthy individuals for three weeks during the simulated weightless condition.
The results revealed significant changes in gene expression in the T cells after 7 and 14 days of weightlessness. The cells exhibited a more immature genetic program, resembling naïve T cells that have not encountered any intruders. This shift suggests that the activated T cells may take longer to respond and become less effective in fighting infections and tumors.
After 21 days, the T cells adapted their gene expression to weightlessness, nearly returning to normal. However, post-experiment analyses showed that some of the changes persisted.
The researchers are planning to further investigate the behavior and function of T cells in weightless conditions using the Esrange Space Centre’s sounding rocket platform in Sweden.
Understanding the effects of weightlessness on the immune system is crucial for the success of future space missions. The insights gained from this study could pave the way for new treatments to reverse the negative changes in immune cells’ genetic programs caused by weightlessness.
Funding for the study came from the Swedish National Space Agency, the Swedish Research Council, and Karolinska Institutet. The research was conducted in collaboration with Claudia Kutter’s research group at Karolinska Institutet/SciLifeLab and partnered with institutions in Moscow and New York.
Source: Karolinska Institutet
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