Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Three Weeks of Anti-orthostatic Suspension had no Effect on Immune Status in a Specific-Pathogen-Free Enfvironment

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Microgravity Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Anti-Orthostatic Suspension (AOS) is a well-known murine ground-based model of simulated microgravity. However, because no commercial equipment is available for AOS in Specific-Pathogen-Free (SPF) laboratories no previous study has been conducted to examine the effect of AOS on allergic immunity. Accordingly, we developed an AOS cage suitable for SPF conditions, and evaluate its reliability and the effect of 3 weeks of AOS on immunity in a mouse model. An AOS cage were developed using stainless steel components. Fourteen female BALB/c mice were allocated to Group A (control group, n=7) or Group B (AOS, n=7). Body weights and thickness of posterior thigh muscles were measured before and after 3 weeks of AOS, and serum IgE and the titers of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN- γ) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were compared, as were lung histologic findings. The SPF condition was successfully maintained. No significant difference in weight gain was observed between groups A (0.9 ±1.0 g) and B (0.8 ±1.1 g, P>0.05) after the 3-week experimental period. The mean thickness of posterior thigh muscles in Group B was significantly lower than in Group A (0.7 ±0.2 versus -0.4 ±0.3 mm, P =0.001). However, group serum IgE titers, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN- γ titers in BAL fluid were non-significantly different. No intergroup difference was found by histopathologic examinations of lungs. In conclusion, using AOS equipment in a SPF laboratory, immune status was not found to be significantly affected by 3 weeks AOS in healthy mice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Belay, T., Aviles, H., Vance, M., Fountain, K., Sonnenfeld, G.: Effects of the hindlimb-unloading model of spaceflight conditions on resistance of mice to infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae. J. Allergy Clinical Immunol. 110(2), 262–268 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapes, S.K., Simske, S.J., Sonnenfeld, G., Miller, E.S., Zimmerman, R.J.: Effects of spaceflight and PEG-IL-2 on rat physiological and immunological responses. J. Appl. Physiol. (Bethesda, Md.: 1985) 86(6), 2065–2076 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cocks, B.G, De Waal Malefyt, R., Galizzi, J.P., De Vries, J.E., Aversa, G.: IL-13 induces proliferation and differentiation of human B cells activated by the CD40 ligand. Int. Immunol. 5(6), 657–663 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crucian, B.E., Cubbage, M.L., Sams, C.F.: Altered cytokine production by specific human peripheral blood cell subsets immediately following space flight. J. Int. Cytokine Res.: Off. J. Int. Soc. Int. Cytokine Res. 20 (6), 547–556 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dabbagh, K., Takeyama, K., Lee, H.M., Ueki, I.F., Lausier, J.A., Nadel, J.A.: IL-4 induces mucin gene expression and goblet cell metaplasia in vitro and in vivo. J. Immunol. (Baltimore, Md.: 1950) 162(10), 6233–6237 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • Felix, K., Wise, K., Manna, S., Yamauchi, K., Wilson, B.L., Thomas, R.L., Kulkarni, A., Pellis, N.R., Ramesh, G.T.: Altered cytokine expression in tissues of mice subjected to simulated microgravity. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 266(1-2), 79–85 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman, F.D., Urban, J.F., Jr., The other side of the coin: The protective role of the TH2 cytokines. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 107(5), 772–780 (2001)

  • Foster, P.S., Hogan, S.P., Ramsay, A.J., Matthaei, K.I., Young, I.G.: Interleukin 5 deficiency abolishes eosinophilia, airways hyperreactivity, and lung damage in a mouse asthma model. J. Exp. Med. 183(1), 195–201 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaignier, F., Schenten, V., De Carvalho Bittencourt, M., Gauquelin-Koch, G., Frippiat, J.P., Legrand-Frossi, C.: Three weeks of murine hindlimb unloading induces shifts from B to T and from th to tc splenic lymphocytes in absence of stress and differentially reduces cell-specific mitogenic responses. PloS One 9(3), e92664 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gmunder, F.K., Konstantinova, I., Cogoli, A., Lesnyak, A., Bogomolov, W., Grachov, A.W.: Cellular immunity in cosmonauts during long duration spaceflight on board the orbital MIR station. Aviat, Space, Environ. Med. 65(5), 419–423 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Godbout, J.P., Glaser, R.: Stress-induced immune dysregulation: Implications for wound healing, infectious disease and cancer. J. Neuroimmune Pharmacol: Off. J. Soc. NeuroImmune Pharmacol. 1(4), 421–427 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jang, T.Y., Park, C.S., Kim, K.S., Heo, M.J., Kim, Y.H.: Benzaldehyde suppresses murine allergic asthma and rhinitis. Int. Immunopharmacol. 22(2), 444–450 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y.H., Park, C.S., Lim, D.H., Son, B.K., Kim, J.H., Ahn, S.H., Bochner, B.S., Na, K., Jang, T.Y.: Antiallergic effect of anti-siglec-F through reduction of eosinophilic inflammation in murine allergic rhinitis. Am. J. Rhinol. Allergy 27(3), 187–191 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y.H., Yang, T.Y., Park, C.S., Ahn, S.H., Son, B.K., Kim, J.H., Lim, D.H., Jang, T.Y.: Anti-IL-33 antibody has a therapeutic effect in a murine model of allergic rhinitis. Allergy 67(2), 183–190 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopydlowski, K.M., McVey, D.S., Woods, K.M., Iandolo, J.J., Chapes, S.K.: Effects of anti-orthostatic suspension and corticosterone on macrophage and spleen cell function. J. Leukoc. Biol. 52(2), 202–208 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni, A.D., Yamauchi, K., Hales, N.W., Ramesh, V., Ramesh, G.T., Sundaresan, A., Andrassy, R.J., Pellis, N.R.: Nutrition beyond nutrition: Plausibility of immunotrophic nutrition for space travel. Clin. Nutr. (Edinburgh, Scotland) 21(3), 231–238 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, S.A., Lang, C.H., Zhang, Y., Paul, E.M., Laufenberg, L.J., Lewis, G.S., Donahue, H.J.: Interdependence of muscle atrophy and bone loss induced by mechanical unloading. J. Bone Miner. Res.: Off. J. Am. Soc. Bone Miner. Res. 29(5), 1118–1130 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, E.S., Sonnenfeld, G.: Influence of suspension on the expression of protective immunological memory to murine listeria monocytogenes infection. J. Leukoc. Biol. 54(6), 578–583 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, E.S., Sonnenfeld, G.: Influence of anti-orthostatic suspension on resistance to murine listeria monocytogenes infection. J. Leukoc. Biol. 55(3), 371–378 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morey-Holton, E., Globus, R.K., Kaplansky, A., Durnova, G.: The hindlimb unloading rat model: Literature overview, technique update and comparison with space flight data. Adv. Space Biol. Med. 10, 7–40 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Donnell, P.M., Orshal, J.M., Sen, D., Sonnenfeld, G., Aviles, H.O.: Effects of exposure of mice to hindlimb unloading on leukocyte subsets and sympathetic nervous system activity. Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 12(1), 82–88 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pawankar, R., Okuda, M., Yssel, H., Okumura, K., Ra, C.: Nasal mast cells in perennial allergic rhinitics exhibit increased expression of the Fc epsilonRI, CD40L, IL-4, and IL-13, and can induce IgE synthesis in B cells. J. Clin. Investig. 99(7), 1492–1499 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pecaut, M.J., Simske, S.J., Fleshner, M.: Spaceflight induces changes in splenocyte subpopulations: Effectiveness of ground-based models. Am. J. Physiol. Regul, Int. Comp. Physiol. 279(6), R2072–8 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Seder, R.A., Paul, W.E., Davis, M.M., Fazekas de St Groth, B.: The presence of interleukin 4 during in vitro priming determines the lymphokine-producing potential of CD4 + T cells from T cell receptor transgenic mice. J. Exp. Med. 176(4), 1091–1098 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sonnenfeld, G.: The immune system in space and microgravity. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 34(12), 2021–2027 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sonnenfeld, G., Morey, E.R., Williams, J.A., Mandel, A.D.: Effect of a simulated weightlessness model on the production of rat interferon. J. Int. Res. 2(4), 467–470 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Steffen, J.M., Robb, R., Dombrowski, M.J., Musacchia, X.J., Mandel, A.D., Sonnenfeld, G.: A suspension model for hypokinetic/hypodynamic and anti-orthostatic responses in the mouse. Aviat, Space, Environ. Med. 55(7), 612–616 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, G.R.: Immune changes during short-duration missions. J. Leukoc. Biol. 54(3), 202–208 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, G.R., Janney, R.P.: In vivo testing confirms a blunting of the human cell-mediated immune mechanism during space flight. J. Leukoc. Biol. 51(2), 129–132 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wronski, T.J., Li, M., Shen, Y., Miller, S.C., Bowman, B.M., Kostenuik, P., Halloran, B.P.: Lack of effect of spaceflight on bone mass and bone formation in group-housed rats. J. Appl. Physiol. (Bethesda, Md.: 1985) 85(1), 279–285 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamauchi, K., Hales, N.W., Robinson, S.M., Niehoff, M.L., Ramesh, V., Pellis, N.R., Kulkarni, A.D.: Dietary nucleotides prevent decrease in cellular immunity in ground-based microgravity analog. J. Appl. Physiol. (Bethesda, Md.: 1985). 93(1), 161–166 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Tae Young Jang received a grant (NRF-2013M1A3A3A02042309) from the Space Core Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning (MSIP). Young Hyo Kim received support from the Basic Science Research Program through the NRF funded by the Korean Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (NRF-2013R1A1A1006382). Kyu-Sung Kim received a grant from the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (NRF-2013R1A2A2A04014796). Tae Young Jang, Young Hyo Kim and Kyu-Sung Kim received Inha University Research Grants. Geun Uck Chang, Min-Jeong Heo and Ah-Yeoun Jung has nothing to declare.

Author contributions

Tae Young Jang wrote the manuscript. Geun Uck Chang and Kyu-Sung Kim interpreted the results and proofread the manuscript. Min-Jeong Heo and Ah-Yeoun Jung conducted the animal experiments, collected data, and performed the statistical analysis. Young Hyo Kim designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, and prepared the figures.

Conflict of interests

The authors have no potential conflict of interest to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine, 27 Inhang-ro, Junggu, Incheon, 400-711, Republic of Korea

    Tae Young Jang, Geun Uck Chang, Kyu-Sung Kim, Min-Jeong Heo, Ah-Yeoun Jung & Young Hyo Kim

Authors
  1. Tae Young Jang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Geun Uck Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kyu-Sung Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Min-Jeong Heo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ah-Yeoun Jung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Young Hyo Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Young Hyo Kim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jang, T.Y., Chang, G.U., Kim, KS. et al. Three Weeks of Anti-orthostatic Suspension had no Effect on Immune Status in a Specific-Pathogen-Free Enfvironment. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 27, 321–327 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-015-9418-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-015-9418-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation