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| Space Flight and Immune Function |
| DSO 498 |
| Principal Investigator: Duane L. Pierson |
| Overview |
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The objective of this DSO is to characterize the effects of space flight on neutrophils, monocytes, and cytotoxic cells, which play an important role in maintaining an effective defense against infectious agents. The premise of this study is that the space environment alters the essential functions of these elements of human immune response. Researchers will conduct a funtional analysis of neutrophils and monocytes from blood samples taken from astronauts before and after the flight. They will also assess the subjects' pre- and postflight production of cytotoxic cells and cytokine. This study will complement previous and continuing immunology studies of astronauts' adaptation to space. |
| History/Background |
| Astronauts face an increasing risk of contracting infectious diseases as they work and live for longer periods in the crowded conditions and closed environmnets of spacecraft such as the Russian Mir space station and the International Space Station. The effects of space flight on the human immune system, which plays a pivotal role in warding off infections, is not fully understood. Understanding the changes in immune function caused by exposure to microgravity will allow researchers to develop countermeasures to minimize the risk of infection. |
Editorial/Technical Comments: ShuttlePresskit
