Lymphocyte movements and interactions in microgravity

J Gravit Physiol. 1995;2(1):P117-8.

Abstract

NASA: Cell-cell contacts and the formation of aggregates play an important role in the mitogen induced in-vitro activation of lymphocytes. The fact that the formation of cell aggregates is only slightly reduced in microgravity suggests that cells are moving and interacting also in space. Direct evidence was obtained for the first time in an experiment performed on a sounding rocket flight, where the movements and interactions of free-floating, non activated cells could be observed in real time in microgravity. In an experiment performed on the IML-2 mission in July 1994, the movements and interactions of human lymphocytes during activation with the mitogen Con A were studied in real time in microgravity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Aggregation / drug effects
  • Cell Aggregation / physiology
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Concanavalin A / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / physiology*
  • Mitogens / pharmacology
  • Space Flight*
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Weightlessness / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Mitogens
  • Concanavalin A