Lost in Space? Unmasking the T Cell Reaction to Simulated Space Stressors
The space environment will expose astronauts to stressors like ionizing radiation, altered gravity fields and elevated cortisol levels, which pose a health risk. Understanding how the interplay between these stressors changes T cells’ response is important to better characterize space-related immune...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/23/16943 |
| _version_ | 1797400027951267840 |
|---|---|
| author | Silvana Miranda Randy Vermeesen Wilhelmina E. Radstake Alessio Parisi Anna Ivanova Sarah Baatout Kevin Tabury Bjorn Baselet |
| author_facet | Silvana Miranda Randy Vermeesen Wilhelmina E. Radstake Alessio Parisi Anna Ivanova Sarah Baatout Kevin Tabury Bjorn Baselet |
| author_sort | Silvana Miranda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The space environment will expose astronauts to stressors like ionizing radiation, altered gravity fields and elevated cortisol levels, which pose a health risk. Understanding how the interplay between these stressors changes T cells’ response is important to better characterize space-related immune dysfunction. We have exposed stimulated Jurkat cells to simulated space stressors (1 Gy, carbon ions/1 Gy photons, 1 µM hydrocortisone (HC), Mars, moon, and microgravity) in a single or combined manner. Pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-2 was measured in the supernatant of Jurkat cells and at the mRNA level. Results show that alone, HC, Mars gravity and microgravity significantly decrease IL-2 presence in the supernatant. 1 Gy carbon ion irradiation showed a smaller impact on IL-2 levels than photon irradiation. Combining exposure to different simulated space stressors seems to have less immunosuppressive effects. Gene expression was less impacted at the time-point collected. These findings showcase a complex T cell response to different conditions and suggest the importance of elevated cortisol levels in the context of space flight, also highlighting the need to use simulated partial gravity technologies to better understand the immune system’s response to the space environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:49:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-234a888911bd404da347b5e8a126bac7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:49:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-234a888911bd404da347b5e8a126bac72023-12-08T15:17:48ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-11-0124231694310.3390/ijms242316943Lost in Space? Unmasking the T Cell Reaction to Simulated Space StressorsSilvana Miranda0Randy Vermeesen1Wilhelmina E. Radstake2Alessio Parisi3Anna Ivanova4Sarah Baatout5Kevin Tabury6Bjorn Baselet7Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, BelgiumRadiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, BelgiumRadiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, BelgiumRadiation Protection Dosimetry and Calibration Expert Group, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), 2400 Mol, BelgiumData Science Institute (DSI), I-BioStat University of Hasselt, 3590 Hasselt, BelgiumRadiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, BelgiumRadiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, BelgiumRadiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, BelgiumThe space environment will expose astronauts to stressors like ionizing radiation, altered gravity fields and elevated cortisol levels, which pose a health risk. Understanding how the interplay between these stressors changes T cells’ response is important to better characterize space-related immune dysfunction. We have exposed stimulated Jurkat cells to simulated space stressors (1 Gy, carbon ions/1 Gy photons, 1 µM hydrocortisone (HC), Mars, moon, and microgravity) in a single or combined manner. Pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-2 was measured in the supernatant of Jurkat cells and at the mRNA level. Results show that alone, HC, Mars gravity and microgravity significantly decrease IL-2 presence in the supernatant. 1 Gy carbon ion irradiation showed a smaller impact on IL-2 levels than photon irradiation. Combining exposure to different simulated space stressors seems to have less immunosuppressive effects. Gene expression was less impacted at the time-point collected. These findings showcase a complex T cell response to different conditions and suggest the importance of elevated cortisol levels in the context of space flight, also highlighting the need to use simulated partial gravity technologies to better understand the immune system’s response to the space environment.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/23/16943stress immunityspace radiobiologyaltered gravity |
| spellingShingle | Silvana Miranda Randy Vermeesen Wilhelmina E. Radstake Alessio Parisi Anna Ivanova Sarah Baatout Kevin Tabury Bjorn Baselet Lost in Space? Unmasking the T Cell Reaction to Simulated Space Stressors International Journal of Molecular Sciences stress immunity space radiobiology altered gravity |
| title | Lost in Space? Unmasking the T Cell Reaction to Simulated Space Stressors |
| title_full | Lost in Space? Unmasking the T Cell Reaction to Simulated Space Stressors |
| title_fullStr | Lost in Space? Unmasking the T Cell Reaction to Simulated Space Stressors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lost in Space? Unmasking the T Cell Reaction to Simulated Space Stressors |
| title_short | Lost in Space? Unmasking the T Cell Reaction to Simulated Space Stressors |
| title_sort | lost in space unmasking the t cell reaction to simulated space stressors |
| topic | stress immunity space radiobiology altered gravity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/23/16943 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT silvanamiranda lostinspaceunmaskingthetcellreactiontosimulatedspacestressors AT randyvermeesen lostinspaceunmaskingthetcellreactiontosimulatedspacestressors AT wilhelminaeradstake lostinspaceunmaskingthetcellreactiontosimulatedspacestressors AT alessioparisi lostinspaceunmaskingthetcellreactiontosimulatedspacestressors AT annaivanova lostinspaceunmaskingthetcellreactiontosimulatedspacestressors AT sarahbaatout lostinspaceunmaskingthetcellreactiontosimulatedspacestressors AT kevintabury lostinspaceunmaskingthetcellreactiontosimulatedspacestressors AT bjornbaselet lostinspaceunmaskingthetcellreactiontosimulatedspacestressors |