Chapters authored
Lymphocyte Signaling and Function in Altered Physiological Environments
The immune system is the body’s defense against infectious organisms and other invaders. It is our immune system that keeps us healthy as we drift through a sea of pathogens. Healthy immune function depends on meticulous regulation of lymphocyte activation. Previous studies have shown unfavorable effects of μg on several physiological systems, including a significant reduction of the adaptive immune response. Lymphocyte movement through interstitium is critically important for the immune response. Thus, the activation of lymphocytes depends on various factors such as cell-to-cell contact due to temporary contact, permanent aggregation or by the uptake of soluble factors such as interleukin 1. Microgravity induced loss of lymphocyte locomotory activity, along with diminished lymphocyte activation, can be counteracted by nutritional supplements such as nucleotides. A study conducted by Andreazzoli et al., proposes that the knowledge of cellular and molecular mechanisms of gravity and its influence on T cells is required for creating the provision of therapeutic and possible preventive targets to keep the bone and immune systems of astronauts fully functional during long-term space missions, in addition to aiding regular people with immune deficiencies. When an immune system is compromised it can lead to various infections as well as cancerous growths. Discovering the ins and outs of the lymphocyte regulatory pathways can account for controlling and studying medicinal treatments for all forms or immune disorders. Therefore, studying both the long-term and short-term effects of microgravity is of great significance, as it has an invalidation nature that affects how the regulators of the immune system are readily able to function.
Part of the book: Lymphocytes