ABSTRACT
During space flight the function of the immune system changes significantly. Several papers reported that postflight the number and the proportion of circulating leukocytes in astronauts are modified (Leach, 1992), the in vitro mitogen induced T cell activation is depressed (Cogoli et al., 1985; Konstantinova et al. 1993) and there are detectable differences in cytokine production of leukocytes as well (Talas et al. 1983; Batkai et al. 1988; Chapes et al. 1992). One of the possible modifying forces is the microgravity condition itself. Our aim was to analyse mechanisms responsible for changing leukocyte functions in low gravity environment. For terrestrial simulation of microgravity we used a Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS) developed by NASA. We investigated the effect of simulated microgravity on separated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We detected the populations of different cells by antibodies conjugated to fluorofors using a Flow Cytometer. Since space flight reduces the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes (Stowe et al., 1999) we supposed that apoptotic (programmed cell death) processes might be involved. This hypothesis was supported by the result of our earlier experiment demonstrating that simulated microgravity increased the level of secreted Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNFalpha, a known apoptotic signal molecule) significantly (Batkai et al. 1999).
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/physiology , B-Lymphocytes/physiology , CD4 Antigens/physiology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/physiology , Peptide Fragments/physiology , Weightlessness Simulation , Apoptosis/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD4 Antigens/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Humans , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/physiology , Peptide Fragments/immunology , RotationABSTRACT
Our earlier space experiments demonstrated that the interferon production of human lymphocytes in microgravity is 4-8 times higher than those of the synchronous ground controls in vitro (Talas et al. 1983). These data suggested that the microgravity has a significant effect on cells. Since the possibilities to perform space-experiments are very limited and our study raised many interesting questions, we wished to simulate microgravity conditions in our laboratory. For this reason we purchased a Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS) equipment to study different cell lines and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in experimental microgravity conditions. RCCS is a horizontally rotated bubble free culture vessel with membrane diffusion gas exchange. We report here an analysis of TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) production by human PBMCs (control cultures exposed to simulated microgravity in RCCS). The cells were incubated in the presence or absence of either NDV (Newcastle Disease Virus) or one of the different forms (PHA-M or -P) of Phytohaemagglutinin.
Subject(s)
Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/biosynthesis , Weightlessness Simulation , Cell Culture Techniques/instrumentation , Cells, Cultured , Humans , Newcastle disease virus , Phytohemagglutinins , RotationABSTRACT
Serum interferon production induced by poly I : C and tilorone and their radioprotective effect in mice exposed to He-alpha particles was studied. The results were compared to those observed after exposure of mice to acute 60Co-gamma irradiation. Interferon production induced by poly I : C was depressed by He-alpha irradiation less than that induced by tilorone. Treatment of mice with poly I : C or tilorone before He-alpha irradiation had no effect on the mortality of animals in contrast to the radioprotective activity of these compounds against 60Co-gamma irradiation.
Subject(s)
Fluorenes/pharmacology , Interferons/biosynthesis , Poly I-C/pharmacology , Radiation-Protective Agents/pharmacology , Tilorone/pharmacology , Alpha Particles , Animals , Female , Gamma Rays , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Inbred CBAABSTRACT
The results of the biological space experiment "Interferon" performed by two international cosmonaut teams (26 May 1980, and 16 May 1981) aboard space laboratory Solyut-6 are reported: (1) Human lymphocytes separated from blood of healthy donors and placed into "Interferon I" equipment could be kept for 7 days in suspension culture under spaceflight conditions. Interferon production could be induced in human lymphocytes by preparations of different origin: virus, synthetic polyribonucleotides, bacterial protein and plant pigment. An increased lymphocyte interferon production in space laboratory compared to ground control was observed. (2) Human interferon preparations and interferon inducers placed in space laboratory at room temperature for 7 days maintained their biological activity. (3) A decrease of induced interferon production and natural killer activity of lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood of cosmonauts was observed on the 1st day on Earth after 7-days spaceflight.
Subject(s)
Interferon Type I/biosynthesis , Lymphocytes/physiology , Space Flight , Weightlessness , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Humans , Interferon Inducers/pharmacology , Killer Cells, Natural/physiology , Lymphocytes/drug effects , Lymphocytes/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB CABSTRACT
The effect of glutaurine (gamma-L-glutamyl-taurine, Litoralon) on the take and development of hepatoma and acute leukaemia induced by MC29/L avian oncorna-virus has been investigated in turkey poults. Glutaurine significantly decreased the incidence of hepatoma, but had no significant effect on the lethality of MC29/L infected birds. The number of primitive myeloid cells was lower in the peripheral blood of glutaurine treated birds than in the untreated controls. Reverse transcriptase determinations in turkey fibroblast cell cultures indicated that glutaurine delays MC29/L virus expression.
Subject(s)
Avian Leukosis Virus/drug effects , Avian Leukosis/microbiology , Glutamine/analogs & derivatives , Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/microbiology , Poultry Diseases/microbiology , Taurine/analogs & derivatives , Turkeys/microbiology , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Glutamine/pharmacology , Male , RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/analysis , Taurine/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The results of the biological space experiment "Interferon" performed by two international cosmonaut crews aboard the space laboratory Solyut-6 are reported. Human lymphocytes separated from the blood of healthy donors and placed into "Interferon I" equipment could be kept for 7 days in suspension culture under spaceflight conditions. Interferon production could be induced in human lymphocytes by preparations of different origin, such as virus, synthetic polyribonucleotides, bacterial protein and plant pigment. An increased lymphocyte interferon production was observed in the space laboratory as compared to the ground control. A decrease of induced interferon production and natural killer cell activity was observed in the cosmonauts' lymphocytes on the 1st day on Earth after 7 days spaceflight.
Subject(s)
Interferon Type I/biosynthesis , Killer Cells, Natural/physiology , Lymphocytes/physiology , Space Flight , Cell Membrane Permeability/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , Humans , Interferon Inducers/pharmacology , Lymphocytes/drug effects , Lymphocytes/metabolismABSTRACT
The influence of spaceflight conditions on the biological activity of HuIFN-alpha preparations (lyophilized, in solution and in ointment) and interferon inducers was studied. In antiviral activity no difference was observed between the samples kept aboard the spaceship and the controls kept under ground conditions. The interferon inducers poly I:C, poly G:C and gossipol placed in the space laboratory for 7 days maintained their interferon-inducing capacity. The circulating interferon level in mice was the same irrespective of the induction being performed with flight or ground-control samples of inducers.
Subject(s)
Interferon Inducers/pharmacology , Interferon Type I/biosynthesis , Space Flight , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Humans , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB CABSTRACT
The effect of polyriboguanylic-polyribocytidylic acid complex was investigated against acute X- and prolonged 60Co-gamma irradiation. Prophylactic administration of the polyribonucleotide complex increased endogenous spleen colony formation and the percentage of survival of irradiated BALB/c mice. The most pronounced effect was observed when the animals had been irradiated at the time of maximum interferon accumulation in blood, i.e. 24 hr after interferon induction by the polyribonucleotide complex.
