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Cited by 155Spaceflight effects on biologyImmunotoxicology and immune responsesStress Responses and Cortisol

Immune function during space flight

Sonnenfeld, Gerald, Shearer, William T·2002·Nutrition
DOI 10.1016/s0899-9007(02)00903-6
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Abstract

It is very likely that the human immune system will be altered in astronauts exposed to the conditions of long-term space flight: isolation, containment, microgravity, radiation, microbial contamination, sleep disruption, and insufficient nutrition. In human and animal subjects flown in space, there is evidence of immune compromise, reactivation of latent virus infection, and possible development of a premalignant or malignant condition. Moreover, in ground-based space flight model investigations, there is evidence of immune compromise and reactivation of latent virus infection. All of these observations in space flight itself or in ground-based models of space flight have a strong resonance in a wealth of human pathologic conditions involving the immune system where reactivated virus infections and cancer appear as natural consequences. The clinical conditions of Epstein-Barr-driven lymphomas in transplant patients and Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with autoimmune deficiency virus come easily to mind in trying to identify these conditions. With these thoughts in mind, it is highly appropriate, indeed imperative, that careful investigations of human immunity, infection, and cancer be made by space flight researchers.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0899-9007(02)00903-6

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57 of 57 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Space travel is associated with a reduction in peripheral T-cell counts.

    “The consistent effects on the immune system observed during space travel, thus far, are a reduction in peripheral T-cell counts; a decrease in NK cell number and functionality [12], [13]; decreases, sometimes severe, in cell-mediated immunity with altered cytokine production [13], [14]; and normal levels of serum immunoglobulins [13].”

    From Hindlimb suspension and spe-like radiation impairs clearance of bacterial infections (2014) · cites this paper as [12]

  • Space travel is associated with a decrease in NK cell number and functionality.

    “The consistent effects on the immune system observed during space travel, thus far, are a reduction in peripheral T-cell counts; a decrease in NK cell number and functionality [12], [13]; decreases, sometimes severe, in cell-mediated immunity with altered cytokine production [13], [14]; and normal levels of serum immunoglobulins [13].”

    From Hindlimb suspension and spe-like radiation impairs clearance of bacterial infections (2014) · cites this paper as [12]

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Authors
Sonnenfeld, G., & Shearer, W. T.
Affiliations
  • Morehouse School of Medicine (US)
  • Baylor College of Medicine (US)
ORCID
Shearer, William T
Venue
Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2002-10
Volume
18
Issue
10
Pages
899-903
ISSN
0899-9007 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s0899-9007(02)00903-6
OpenAlex
W2131738221
Cited by
155
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 8
FWCI
0.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Spaceflight effects on biology
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotoxicology and immune responses
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
spaceflight, immune function, microgravity, immune compromise, latent virus reactivation, Epstein-Barr virus, Kaposi's sarcoma, cancer risk, radiation exposure, microbial contamination, sleep disruption, isolation
MeSH terms
Aerospace Medicine, Animals, Humans, Immune System, Neoplasms, Space Flight, Stress, Physiological, Virus Activation, Weightlessness

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