PRODUCTION OF CYTOKINES BY HUMAN PBMCs IN SIMULATED MICROGRAVITY

摘要

Alteration of immune functions have been observed in lymphocytes from astronautes after long-term and short term space flight. To study the influence of microgravity on the cytokine network, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were investigated for their ability to secrete different cytokines (TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ) in simulated microgravity established by Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS). We detected a significantly enhanced level of all investigated cytokines in simulated microgravity. They appeared consecutively: TNF-α showed its maximum at 24 hours, IL-12 at 48 hours and IFN-γ at day 6. We suggest that simulated microgravity itself affects the production of different intercellular signal molecules and modulates thereby immune cell function.