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Altered cytokine expression in tissues of mice subjected to simulated microgravity

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Abstract

Space flight is known to induce microgravity-associated immune dysfunction in humans, non-human primates and rodents. To understand the mechanism underlying these defects, several studies in rodents have been conducted in a ground-based antiorthostatic suspension (AOS) model that would mimic the effects of microgravity. In all these in vivo studies that showed the effects on cytokine profiles actually investigated the ex vivo production from culturing the cells isolated from whole organism that was exposed to space flight and/or microgravity. So, the purpose of the study was to examine the in vivo expression of cytokines in mice in immunologically important tissue environments of mice that were subjected to AOS. Cytokines such as Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in the homogenates of spleen tissue, lymph nodes and also in serum of AOS mice and compared with that of control mice. AOS induced no change in the IL-3 levels, but IL-1β was increased significantly whereas IL-2 levels decreased in spleen, lymph nodes and serum. IL-6 levels did not differ in spleen but were significantly increased in lymph nodes and serum of AOS mice. IFN-γ levels in spleen did not change but showed nonsignificant reduction in lymph nodes and significant reduction in serum in response to AOS. TNF-α levels in spleen and serum were unchanged and increased in lymph nodes. This in vivo cytokine study confirms the earlier findings that microgravity-simulated conditions induce tissue-specific immune response (Mol Cell Biochem 266: 79–85, 2004)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX

    K. Felix, K. Wise & G.T. Ramesh

  2. Immunology Laboratory, Center for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics, Hyderabad, AP

    S. Manna

  3. Department of Surgery, The University Texas, Houston, TX

    K. Yamauchi & A. Kulkarni

  4. Department of Chemistry, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX

    B.L. Wilson & R.L. Thomas

  5. Cellular Biotechnology Program, NASA-JSC, Houston, TX

    N.R. Pellis

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Felix, K., Wise, K., Manna, S. et al. Altered cytokine expression in tissues of mice subjected to simulated microgravity. Mol Cell Biochem 266, 79–85 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:MCBI.0000049136.55611.dd

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