title: Immune resistance of man in space flights.
abstract: The immune system of 72 cosmonauts was studied after their flights on board Salyut 6, 7 and Mir orbital stations.  PHA lymphocyte reactivity, T helper activity and NK capacity to recognize and kill the target were decreased on 1-7 days after prolonged (3-11 months) space flights.  Certain alterations were found in the ultrastructure of the NK secretory and locomotor apparatuses.  Decrement of IL 2 production was shown using the biological test.  However immunoenzymatic analysis did not reveal a decrease in IL 2 synthesis.  Production of a alpha-interferon remained unchanged while that of gamma-interferon either rose or was diminished.  Several cosmonauts displayed a trend towards increased OAF production.  The observed decrease in immune system functioning may increase the risk of various diseases during prolonged space flights.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical & Biological Problems of Ministry of Health of USSR, Moscow.
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Konstantinova
mesh_terms: D018480:Astronauts; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013026:Space Flight; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014893:Weightlessness / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D007371:Interferon-gamma