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Mitogenic signal transduction in T lymphocytes in microgravityThe activation by concanavalin A Con A of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in the presence of monocytes as accessory cells was investigated in cultures exposed to microgravity conditions in Spacelab. Activation of T cells was measured as incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA, secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma, and expression of IL-2 receptors. Whereas, as discovered in earlier experiments, the activation of resuspended T cells is strongly inhibited, activation of cells attached to microcarrier beads is more than doubled in microgravity. The results suggest that the depression of the activation in resuspended cells may be attributed to a malfunction of monocytes acting as accessory cells. In fact, although the ultrastructure of resuspended monocytes is not altered in microgravity, the secretion of IL-1 is strongly inhibited. Our data suggest that (1) IL-2 is produced independently of IL-1, (2) IL-1 production is triggered only when monocytes (and lymphocytes?) adhere to microcarriers, (3) the expression of IL-2 receptors depends on IL-1, and (4) provided sufficient IL-1 is available, activation is enhanced in microgravity. Finally, cultures of resuspended PBLs and monocytes in microgravity constitute a complete and natural system in which monocytes are not operational. This may be useful for studies of the role of accessory cells and cell-cell interactions in T lymphocyte activation.
Document ID
20050000472
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Cogoli, A.
(Space Biology Group, ETH Technopark, Zurich, Switzerland)
Bechler, B.
Cogoli-Greuter, M.
Criswell, S. B.
Joller, H.
Joller, P.
Hunzinger, E.
Muller, O.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of leukocyte biology
Volume: 53
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0741-5400
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
STS-40 Shuttle Project
NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology
Non-NASA Center
NASA Experiment Number 178240 1/2
short duration
manned
NASA Program Flight
Flight Experiment
NASA Discipline Number 00-00

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