BACKGROUND: Previously performed in vitro studies suggested that gravitational stress may alter functions of immune cells. This study investigated the in vivo effects of parabolic flight manoeuvres as a short-term model of micro- and hypergravity on the cytotoxic and microbicidal polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) functions as the key element of innate immunity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one healthy male volunteers underwent 30 subsequent parabolic flight manoeuvres. Each manoeuvre produced 22-s periods of nearly weightlessness close to <<0g>>, with each parabola starting with a pull-up and ending with a pull-out (hypergravity) at 1.8 g for about 20 s each. Blood samples were drawn 24 h prior to take off (T0), after 25-30 parabolas (T1), and 24 h (T2) and 48 h (T3) after flight for determination of (i) leucocyte number and subpopulations, (ii) PMNs' capabilities to produce hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and to adhere and phagocytose particles and (iii) plasma cytokines known to prime PMN functions [interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)]. RESULTS: Parabolic flight induced an increase in leucocyte number with a significant elevation of the PMN fraction. The spontaneous H(2)O(2) production by PMNs did not change; however, the capability of PMNs to produce H(2)O(2) in response to soluble stimuli [N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), fMLP and TNF-alpha, calcium ionophore (A23187), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)] was increased. Adhesive and phagocytic properties of PMNs were not altered. Regarding priming cytokines, IL-8 and G-CSF were significantly elevated. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that parabolic flight induces priming of the cytotoxic capabilities of PMNs without affecting microbicidal functions.
BACKGROUND: Previously performed in vitro studies suggested that gravitational stress may alter functions of immune cells. This study investigated the in vivo effects of parabolic flight manoeuvres as a short-term model of micro- and hypergravity on the cytotoxic and microbicidal polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) functions as the key element of innate immunity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one healthy male volunteers underwent 30 subsequent parabolic flight manoeuvres. Each manoeuvre produced 22-s periods of nearly weightlessness close to <<0g>>, with each parabola starting with a pull-up and ending with a pull-out (hypergravity) at 1.8 g for about 20 s each. Blood samples were drawn 24 h prior to take off (T0), after 25-30 parabolas (T1), and 24 h (T2) and 48 h (T3) after flight for determination of (i) leucocyte number and subpopulations, (ii) PMNs' capabilities to produce hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and to adhere and phagocytose particles and (iii) plasma cytokines known to prime PMN functions [interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)]. RESULTS: Parabolic flight induced an increase in leucocyte number with a significant elevation of the PMN fraction. The spontaneous H(2)O(2) production by PMNs did not change; however, the capability of PMNs to produce H(2)O(2) in response to soluble stimuli [N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), fMLP and TNF-alpha, calcium ionophore (A23187), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)] was increased. Adhesive and phagocytic properties of PMNs were not altered. Regarding priming cytokines, IL-8 and G-CSF were significantly elevated. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that parabolic flight induces priming of the cytotoxic capabilities of PMNs without affecting microbicidal functions.
Authors: M Feuerecker; W Mayer; I Kaufmann; M Gruber; F Muckenthaler; B Yi; A P Salam; J Briegel; G Schelling; M Thiel; A Choukèr Journal: Clin Exp Immunol Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Astrid Adrian; Kathrin Schoppmann; Juri Sromicki; Sonja Brungs; Melanie von der Wiesche; Bertold Hock; Waldemar Kolanus; Ruth Hemmersbach; Oliver Ullrich Journal: Cell Commun Signal Date: 2013-12-20 Impact factor: 5.712
Authors: Ulrik Stervbo; Toralf Roch; Tina Kornprobst; Birgit Sawitzki; Gerald Grütz; Andreas Wilhelm; Francis Lacombe; Kaoutar Allou; Markus Kaymer; Antoine Pacheco; Jacques Vigne; Timm H Westhoff; Felix S Seibert; Nina Babel Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-11-14 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: D Moser; S J Sun; N Li; K Biere; M Hoerl; S Matzel; M Feuerecker; J-I Buchheim; C Strewe; C S Thiel; Y X Gao; C Z Wang; O Ullrich; M Long; A Choukèr Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2019-08-02 Impact factor: 4.379