Indicators of human cellular immunity in conditions of artificial gravity creation using a short-arm centrifuge

Abstract

Introduction. Under conditions of space flight (SF), the human body is exposed to a number of adverse factors, one of which is microgravity, leading to the inhibition of the functions of various physiological systems, including the immune system. It is possible to eliminate the negative effects of microgravity by creating an artificial force of gravity (AFG) on board a spacecraft using a short-range centrifuge (SAC). The conducted ground-based experiments are designed to determine the optimal regimes for creating AFG at the SAC from the point of view of safety in relation to the human immune system.

The aim of the study – assessment of the direction and severity of changes in human cellular immunity before and after rotation on the SAC in various modes.

Material and methods. The study involved 10 practically healthy volunteers (men) aged 25–40 years, each subject underwent 3 rotations on the SAC, the acting factor in the tests was overloads of the «head–pelvis» direction (+Gz). The rotation modes differed from each other in the magnitude of the overload at the stop level, the duration of the «platform» during acceleration and deceleration, as well as the total rotation time. Venous blood sampling was carried out in vacuum tubes with potassium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (K3 EDTA) before rotations (baseline), as well as after each of the rotations on the SAC. The following indicators of cellular immunity were evaluated in the blood samples of the subjects by flow cytometry: the content of helper T-lymphocytes (Th, CD3+CD4+), cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL, CD3+CD8+), B-lymphocytes (CD3CD19+), natural killers (NK cells, CD3CD16+CD56+), non-classical monocytes (CD14+CD16++), monocytes and granulocytes with membrane expression of type III complement receptors (CR3, CD11b+CD18+) and toll-like receptors (TLR) – TLR2, TLR4, TLR6. The data obtained are presented as median (Me) and interquartile range (Q25–Q75). To assess the significance of differences in the studied parameters, the nonparametric Wilcoxon T-test was used for related samples at a significance level of p < 0,05.

Results. The study compared the indices of cellular immunity after each of the three rotations on the SAC with baseline values (before rotations). There was a decrease in the content of NK cells (rotation mode 1), TLR6-expressing monocytes and TLR2-expressing granulocytes (rotation mode 2). Rotation mode 3 did not lead to significant changes in the studied parameters of the immune system.

Conclusion. The obtained data on a decrease in the content of innate immunity cells indicate a possible inhibition of the immune system functional activity after rotation on the SAC under modes 1 and 2. However, after rotation in mode 3, the values of the studied parameters did not significantly differ from baseline, which, in our opinion, determines the safety for the immune system of using a short-arm centrifuge as a means of preventing the negative effects of microgravity on the human body.

Keywords:immune system; innate immunity; short-arm centrifuge; natural killers; toll-like receptors; monocytes; granulocytes

For citation: Shmarov V.A., Rykova M.P., Antropova E.N., Kutko O.V., Shulgina S.M., Orlova K.D., Zhirova E.A., Sadova A.A., Vlasova D.D., Lysenko E.A., Kudlay D.A., Ponomarev S.A. Indicators of human cellular immunity in conditions of artificial gravity creation using a short-arm centrifuge. Immunologiya. 2022; 43 (2): 149–56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33029/0206-4952-2022-43-2-149-156 (in Russian)

Funding. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF), grant No. 18-75-10086-P.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Authors’ contribution. The concept and design of the study – Shmarov V.A., Ponomarev S.A.; collection and processing of material – Kutko O.V., Shulgina S.M.; statistical data processing – Orlova K.D., Zhirova E.A.; writing the text – Shmarov V.A.; preparation of the English version of the abstract – Sadova A.A., Vlasova D.D.; editing – Rykova M.P., Lysenko E.A., Antropova E.N., Kudlay D.A.; approval of the final version of the article – Ponomarev S.A.; responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article – Shmarov V.A.

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