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Immune function during space flightIt is very likely that the human immune system will be altered in astronauts exposed to the conditions of long-term space flight: isolation, containment, microgravity, radiation, microbial contamination, sleep disruption, and insufficient nutrition. In human and animal subjects flown in space, there is evidence of immune compromise, reactivation of latent virus infection, and possible development of a premalignant or malignant condition. Moreover, in ground-based space flight model investigations, there is evidence of immune compromise and reactivation of latent virus infection. All of these observations in space flight itself or in ground-based models of space flight have a strong resonance in a wealth of human pathologic conditions involving the immune system where reactivated virus infections and cancer appear as natural consequences. The clinical conditions of Epstein-Barr-driven lymphomas in transplant patients and Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with autoimmune deficiency virus come easily to mind in trying to identify these conditions. With these thoughts in mind, it is highly appropriate, indeed imperative, that careful investigations of human immunity, infection, and cancer be made by space flight researchers.
Document ID
20040088072
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Sonnenfeld, Gerald
(Morehouse School of Medicine Atlanta, Georgia 30310, United States)
Shearer, William T.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
Volume: 18
Issue: 10
ISSN: 0899-9007
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
manned
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology
STS Shuttle Project
Review, Tutorial
Review
short duration
Flight Experiment
unmanned
Cosmos Project

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