It is suspected that exposure to the weightlessness of space alters the essential functions of neutrophils, monocytes, and cytotoxic cells (lymphokine-activated and natural killer cells). This DSO will characterize the effects of space flight on selected immune elements that are important in maintaining an effective defense against infectious agents. The roles of neutrophils, monocytes, and cytotoxic cells, which are important elements of the immune response, have not been studied adequately. These studies will complement ongoing and previous space immunology investigations.
This DSO will prove or disprove the hypothesis that space flight alters the immune response to infectious agents by analyzing neutrophils and monocytes and assessing cytotoxic cells and cytokine production before and after the mission.
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