Page 159 - International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, 3rd edition.

Immune Defenses

Virtually the entire population is infected with one of eight herpes viruses, four of which reactivate and
appear in body fluids in response to the stress of spaceflight. A patent-pending device designed for use
in either a doctor’s office or on a spacecraft allow for the rapid detection of one of these viruses (VZV),
which can lead to earlier treatment and prevent the onset of painful shingles. Microgravity studies on
the International Space Station (ISS) help researchers pinpoint genetic triggers for immune responses
in T-cells, thus leading to future medical treatments on Earth for immunosuppression. Determining
the changes that occur to the immune system in space provides the means to develop targeted
countermeasures to adverse effects in space, as well as furnishes additional information for targeted
treatments on Earth for the development of pharmaceuticals that can suppress immune response to
help manage autoimmune diseases or organ transplants.

Tackling Immune System Dysfunction— look at subtle changes in the immune system that may
from Multiple Angles occur before symptoms show up, whether in space or
on the ground, may help scientists pinpoint the onset
Getting sick is no fun for anyone, but it especially taxes of illness so they can suggest monitoring strategies or
crew members aboard the ISS. Protecting crew health treatments to boost the immune system—and prevent
is important as NASA prepares for long-duration, full-blown infections and diseases.
deep-space missions. The human immune system
is a complex web of biological structures and T-cells, a type of white blood cell, play a role in
processes; decreased activity in one piece of it activating the body’s immune system. The T-Cell
can change overall disease risk. Studies have shown Activation in Aging investigation sent T-cells to the
microgravity causes modifications in the human space station, then analyzed changes in their gene
immune system. Figuring out why and how this response back on the ground to help determine what
occurs could help not only astronauts, but people causes depression of the human immune system
affected by immune dysfunction here on Earth. in microgravity. Results support the development of
better protective measures to keep crews healthy
Many investigations aboard the space station during long space missions, especially those beyond
have studied the effect of microgravity on immune Earth orbit, well out of the reach of major medical
system health. For example, the Functional Immune facilities. Better understanding of immune system
investigation analyzes blood and saliva samples to activation and suppression also supports improved
identify changes taking place in crew members’ treatment for autoimmune diseases such as arthritis
immune systems during flight, and compares the and diabetes, and the natural decline of the immune
data with self-reported health information. This unique system as people age.

Another investigation, Integrated Immune, tested
a strategy to measure white blood cell count and
stress hormones in crew members during spaceflight
Studies have shown microgravity onboard the space station. Researchers found
increases in red blood cell count, mean corpuscular
causes modifications in the human volume, hemoglobin, and platelet concentration
immune system. Figuring out why on long-duration flights. This suggests that reports
of reduction in these blood elements represent
and how this occurs could help early adaptation to microgravity, and that spending
not only astronauts, but people more time in space may somewhat compensate
affected by immune dysfunction for those reductions. The monitoring techniques of
this investigation have potential benefit in infection
here on Earth. epidemics and remote locations on Earth, as well.
Multi-Omics evaluates how the space environment and
prebiotics affect immune function. This investigation

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