title: Antarctic isolation: immune and viral studies.
abstract: Stressful environmental conditions are a major determinant of immune reactivity. This effect is pronounced in Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition populations exposed to prolonged periods of isolation in the Antarctic. Alterations of T cell function, including depression of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity responses and a peak 48.9% reduction of T cell proliferation to the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin, were documented during a 9-month period of isolation. T cell dysfunction was mediated by changes within the peripheral blood mononuclear cell compartment, including a paradoxical atypical monocytosis associated with altered production of inflammatory cytokines. There was a striking reduction in the production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the predominant pro-inflammatory monokine TNF-alpha and changes were also detected in the production of IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-1ra and IL-10. Prolonged Antarctic isolation is also associated with altered latent herpesvirus homeostasis, including increased herpesvirus shedding and expansion of the polyclonal latent Epstein-Barr virus-infected B cell population. These findings have important long-term health implications.
authors.affiliation: Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Australia.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Tingate
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lugg
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Stowe
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Pierson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012008:Recurrence; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers