The influence of respiratory hypoxic gas mixtures (oxygen-nitrogen and oxygen-nitrogen-argon) in a pressure chamber on the state of the human cellular immunity

Abstract

Introduction. The development of various fireproof hypoxic argon-containing breathing mixtures and the assessment of their safety for human health is a promising area of modern cosmonautics.

The aim of the work was to study the state of human innate and adaptive immunity during and after prolonged breathing an oxygen-nitrogen-argon gas mixture at elevated pressure.

Material and methods. 6 healthy men from 25 to 42 years of age participated in three experimental series. During the first experimental series, the subjects breathed a hypoxic mixture with the addition of argon at an overpressure of 0.02 MPa. During the second experimental series, the subjects breathed an extremely hypoxic mixture (4.7–5.3 % oxygen) with the addition of argon and an overpressure of 0.2 MPa. During the third experimental series, the subjects breathed a hypoxic mixture without the addition of argon at an overpressure of 0.02 MPa. To assess the state of immunity before, during and after stay in the pressure chamber, the absolute and relative contents of leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, B- and T-lymphocytes, natural killers, as well as their various subpopulations, were determined.

Results. During the first and second experimental series, a day after leaving the pressure chamber, an increase in hematocrit and erythrocyte content in the blood was observed. In the second experimental series, a day after leaving the chamber, an increase in the relative content of monocytes expressing TLR2 and TLR4, an increase in the absolute and relative contents of granulocytes expressing TLR2 and TLR4 and a relative content of granulocytes expressing TLR6 were determined. Also, a day after leaving the chamber in the second experimental series, the relative content of T-lymphocytes with CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ phenotypes significantly decreased.

Conclusion. The observed changes were short-lived, however, it can be assumed that a longer stay in pressure chamber with an oxygen content of 4.7–5.3 % and an overpressure of 0.2 MPa can cause a pronounced imbalance in the immune system and reduce the protective reserves of the body.

Keywords:argon; high pressure; Toll-like receptors; T-lymphocytes

For citation: Lysenko E.A., 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., Ponomarev S.A. The influence of respiratory hypoxic gas mixtures (oxygen-nitrogen and oxygen-nitrogen-argon) in a pressure chamber on the state of the human cellular immunity. Immunologiya. 2022; 43 (6): 643–53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33029/0206-4952-2022-42-6-643-653 (in Russian)

Funding. Study was supported by Research Subject No. 65.1 of the Program for Fundamental Scientific Research of the RAS.

Conflict of interests. Authors declare no conflict of interests.

Authors’ contribution. Conception and design of the study – Rykova M.P., Antropova E.N., Ponomarev S.A.; data collection and processing – Shmarov V.A., Kutko O.V., Shulgina S.M., Orlova K.D., Zhirova E.A., Sadova A.A., Vlasova D.D.; writing of the text – Lysenko E.A.; revision – Rykova M.P., Antropova E.N., Ponomarev S.A.; final approval – Ponomarev S.A.

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