title: Ship-borne journey induces Th1 cytokines level in antarctic summer expeditioners.
abstract: It has become apparent that extreme environmental conditions of Antarctic continent alters many immune responses. The present study was conducted on 28th Indian Antarctic expeditioners. The investigations were carried out to explore the effect of multiple stresses like isolation, cold and UV exposure on human immunity. Thirty blood samples were collected between 6 and 7 AM, after an overnight fast at different stages of the expedition - viz. the pre-exposure sample was collected at Delhi on 25(th) October 2008. The expedition started its ship journey from Capetown, on 6(th) January, 2009 and on-board blood was collected on 31(st) January 2009. After 1 month stay at Maitri, blood was collected on 3(rd) March 2009. Different parameters studied included levels of cytokines, chemokines and cortisol. The ship-borne journey induced a dramatic increase in TNF-α, IFN-γ, and B cell activating factor (BAFF) levels and moderate decreases in TGF-β and cortisol levels. However, after being off board for 1 month at Maitri station, levels of above cytokines, cortisol and BAFF were decreased but MIP-1α was significantly increased. These data for the first time suggest that ship-borne journey to the Antarctic continent results in tremendous stress to the body, which eventually resulted in increased TH1-biased immunity.
authors.affiliation: Immunomodulation Laboratory, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi 110054, India.
authors.forename: Kamla Prasad
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Anand Prakash
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.lastname: Shweta
authors.forename: Sudipta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chanda
authors.forename: Lilly
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ganju
authors.forename: Dhurjati
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Majumdar
authors.forename: Govindasamy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ilavazhagan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005101:Expeditions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D012767:Ships; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D016207:Cytokines; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D006854:Hydrocortisone