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Increased susceptibility to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection under hindlimb-unloading conditionsIt has been reported that spaceflight conditions alter the immune system and resistance to infection [Belay T, Aviles H, Vance M, Fountain K, and Sonnenfeld G. J Allergy Clin Immunol 170: 262-268, 2002; Hankins WR and Ziegelschmid JF. In: Biomedical Results of Apollo. Washington, DC: NASA, 1975, p. 43-81. (NASA Spec. Rep. SP-368)]. Ground-based models, including the hindlimb-unloading model, have become important tools for increasing understanding of how spaceflight conditions can influence physiology. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of hindlimb unloading on the susceptibility of mice to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Hindlimb-unloaded and control mice were subcutaneously infected with 1 LD50 of P. aeruginosa. Survival, bacterial organ load, and antibody and corticosterone levels were compared among the groups. Hindlimb unloading had detrimental effects for infected mice. Animals in the hindlimb-unloaded group, compared with controls, 1). showed significantly increased mortality and reduced time to death, 2). had increased levels of corticosterone, and 3). were much less able to clear bacteria from the organs. These results suggest that hindlimb unloading may induce the production of corticosterone, which may play a critical role in the modulation of the immune system leading to increased susceptibility to P. aeruginosa infection.
Document ID
20040087799
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Aviles, Hernan
(Morehouse School of Medicine Atlanta, Georgia 30310-1495, United States)
Belay, Tesfaye
Fountain, Kimberly
Vance, Monique
Sonnenfeld, Gerald
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 2003
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
Volume: 95
Issue: 1
ISSN: 8750-7587
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: 5G12 RR
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Program Biomedical Research and Countermeasures
NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology

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