Research progress of microgravity effects on immune system

Abstract

Objective To summarize the effects of space flight and ground simulated microgravity environment on immune cell's activity and functions.Literature resource and selection Domestic and international publications in this field were carefully retrieved.Literature quotation Fifty published research papers and reviews were cited.Literature synthesis Many studies have demonstrated that microgravity of space flight and simulated microgravity can affect the activity and functions of many kinds of immune cells,including altering the number and subset ratio of immune cells,reducing the mitogen-stimulated proliferation activity of T cells and affecting the secretion of cytokines,etc..Conclusions Microgravity can certainly cause negative effects on immune cells.Some fundamental cellular processes,such as expression of cell surface receptors,regulation of functional genes,transmission of signal pathways and epigenetic events may contribute to the effects of microgravity on immune cells.For further understanding of the effects of microgravity on immune cells,future studies should focus on the molecular mechanism among those related receptors,transduction signals and regulation genes.Countermeasures for preventing,such as the process of restoring immune cell's function from the restrain of microgravity effects,are expected.It will provide support for developing long-term space scientific research and space life. Key words: Weightlessness; Space flight; Immunity, cellular; Review literature