title: Gravity changes during animal development affect IgM heavy-chain transcription and probably lymphopoiesis.
abstract: Our previous research demonstrated that spaceflight conditions affect antibody production in response to an antigenic stimulation in adult amphibians. Here, we investigated whether antibody synthesis is affected when animal development occurs onboard a space station. To answer this question, embryos of the Iberian ribbed newt, Pleurodeles waltl, were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) before the initiation of immunoglobulin heavy-chain expression. Thus, antibody synthesis began in space. On landing, we determined the effects of spaceflight on P. waltl development and IgM heavy-chain transcription. Results were compared with those obtained using embryos that developed on Earth. We find that IgM heavy-chain transcription is doubled at landing and that spaceflight does not affect P. waltl development and does not induce inflammation. We also recreated the environmental modifications encountered by the embryos during their development onboard the ISS. This strategy allowed us to demonstrate that gravity change is the factor responsible for antibody heavy-chain transcription modifications that are associated with NF-κB mRNA level variations. Taken together, and given that the larvae were not immunized, these data suggest a modification of lymphopoiesis when gravity changes occur during ontogeny.
authors.affiliation: Department of Development and Immunogenetics, Lorraine University, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huin-Schohn
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guéguinou
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schenten
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bascove
authors.forename: Guillemette Gauquelin
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baatout
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tschirhart
authors.forename: Jean-Pol
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Frippiat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D006112:Gravitation; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000235:genetics*; D038041:Lymphopoiesis; D010999:Pleurodeles / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013026:Space Flight; D015996:Survival Rate; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007075:Immunoglobulin M