Duane L. Pierson, Ph.D.NASA Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas

Muscle loss

Fluid shifts,hematological changes

Neurosensory adaptations

Gastrointestinal alterations

Cardiovascular adaptations

Taste and odor sensitivity

Sleep and circadianrhythm disturbances

Psychological-Behavioral-Performance issues

Immune changes

Bone loss

ADAPTATION TO SPACEFLIGHT

HUMAN IMMUNE RESPONSEHUMAN IMMUNE RESPONSE

• Blood Cell CountBlood Cell Count

• Lymphocyte Proliferative ResponsesLymphocyte Proliferative Responses

• Cell Mediated ImmunityCell Mediated Immunity

• Cytokine ProductionCytokine Production

• NK Cell CytotoxicityNK Cell Cytotoxicity

• Humoral FactorsHumoral Factors

• Specific Antibody ResponseSpecific Antibody Response

• Wound HealingWound Healing

• Neutrophil FunctionsNeutrophil Functions

HEALTHHEALTH

DISEASEDISEASE

•• Crowded Living Conditions•• Closed-Loop Environment (Water/Air)•• Reduced Capability for Personal Hygiene•• Limited Clean-up and Disinfection Capability•• Inability to Isolate Contagious Crewmember•• Limited Treatment Capability and Crew Return•• Altered Immune Response

FACTORS INCREASING DISEASE RISKFACTORS INCREASING DISEASE RISK

•• Skin InfectionsSkin Infections•• Gastrointestinal DistressGastrointestinal Distress•• Urinary Tract InfectionsUrinary Tract Infections

•• Upper RespiratoryUpper Respiratory• Latent Viral Reactivation

INFECTIOUS DISEASE RISKSINFECTIOUS DISEASE RISKS

SPECIFIC APPLICATIONMay be used as an early predictor of impending medically significant changes in the immune response.

Herpesviruses are the most readily recognized latent viruses. These viruses are ubiquitous and represent important

infectious disease risks with oncogenic potential.

WHY HERPESVIRUSES?

They are not mitigated by preflight quarantine. Space flight stress alters immune response. Diminished immunity results in reactivation and dissemination

(“shedding”) of latent viruses.

SALIVA COLLECTION PROCEDURE

Antarctica: EBV

Days in Isolation

EBV

DN

A O

.D. @

405

nm

DTH

resp

onse

-100 -50 0 50 100 150 200 2500

1

2

3

4

5

Subject 1

PreNormal

Hypoergic

Anergic

PostIsolation

Space Shuttle: EBV copies E

BV

Cop

ies

per m

l

0

200

400

600

800

1000

EBV Frequency: 29%EBV copies 40+ 2

Day before launch(L-)

200-140 139-60 59-1

EBV Frequency:16%EBV copies 417+ 31

Day offlight

2-4 5-7 8-14

Day after recovery(R+)

1-30 31-45

EBV Frequency: 16%

EBV copies 44+ 5

n = 32Space Flights = 10

•Control•Mir

Space Shuttle: CMV Frequency%

Pos

itive

CM

V U

rine

Sam

ples

Astronauts Control0

5

10

15

20

25

30n = 71

n = 61

CMV IgG Antibody TitersC

MV

IgG

Ant

ibod

y Ti

ters

(M

ean

+/- S

E lo

g 2)

55 Astronauts

40 non-shedders

* significant increase from BL (p<0.001)† significant increase from L-10 (p< 0.001)

BL L-10 R+0 R+32

3

4

5

6

7

815 CMV Shedders

**

†*

CONCLUSIONS1. Space flight is a unique stress model 2. Antarctic Science Stations model many

aspects of space flight 3. Stress associated with space flight results in

increased reactivation of EBV, CMV and VZV. 4. Viral reactivation in astronauts appears to be

linked to duration in Space (Stress/ Microgravity ?).

5. Space flight associated stress manifested through the HPA-axis result in increased stress hormones, reduced CMI, and increased viral reactivation.

• Satish K Mehta, Ph.D., NASA-JSC• Desmond J. Lugg, M.D., Australian Antarctic Div, Hobart,

Australia• Janet S. Butel, Ph.D., NSBRI/Baylor College of Medicine,

Houston,TX• Randall J. Cohrs, Ph.D., Uni Colorado Health Sciences Center,

Denver Co • Bagher Forghani, Ph.D.,California Department of Health

Services, Richmond, CA• Stephen K. Tyring, M.D., Ph.D., UTMB, Galveston, TX• Ronald Glaser, Ph.D., The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS