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Plasma Cytokine Levels in Astronauts Before and after SpaceflightSpace flight is a unique experience and results in adverse effects on human physiology. Changes have been reported in various physiological systems, including musculoskeletal, neurovestibular, cardiovascular, endocrine, immunity and increased latent viral reactivation as well as others. The potential mechanisms behind these changes are not fully understood. Various cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF and chemokines have been linked to several of these changes, like muscle loss, bone loss, fatigue, sleep deprivation and viral reactivation. Eighteen astronauts (15 M and 3 F) from 8 spaceflights and 10 healthy age-matched adults (6 M, 4 F) were included in the present study. A panel of 21 plasma cytokines was analyzed with the Luminex 100 to measure the cytokines in these subjects 10 days before the flight (L-10), 2-3 hour after landing (R+0), 3 days after landing (R+3), and at their annual medical exam (AME). IL-10, IL-1, IFN-alpha, MCP-1 and IP-10 increased significantly at L-10 as compared with AME levels. IL-6 and IFN-alpha showed significant increases at R + 0 (P less than .05) over their baseline levels (AME). Cytokine levels at R+3 were not significantly different from R+0. IL-10 and IL-6 have been reported to increase in during viral reactivation. These data show that there was a shift from TH1 to TH2 cytokines L-10 and R+0. We also studied viral reactivation in 10 of the 18 subjects included in the present study before, during, and after space flight. Increased salivary varicella zoster virus (VZV) shedding in these subjects was found either during or after the mission. VZV shedding correlated with the increased levels of cytokines especially IL-10 and IL-6. Overall, our data suggests that cytokines may play an important role in regulating adverse changes in astronauts, and further studies are needed to fully understand the mechanism.
Document ID
20080010618
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Mehta, Satish K.
(Enterprise Advisory Services, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Aggarwal, Barat B.
(Texas Univ. Houston, TX, United States)
Feiveson, Alan H.
(Microgen, LLC Galveston, TX, United States)
Hammond, Dinne K.
(Enterprise Advisory Services, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Castro, Victoria A.
(Enterprise Advisory Services, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Stowe, Raymond
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Pierson Duane L.
(Microgen, LLC Galveston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
February 4, 2008
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Meeting Information
Meeting: Human Research Program Investigators'' Workshop
Location: League City, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: February 4, 2008
End Date: February 6, 2008
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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