Alliterated immune response
Given that exposure to orbital spaceflight results in persistent dysregulation of the immune system, which leads to reactivation of latent herpes-viruses and likely to an increased clinical incidence, including rashes and hypersensitivity reactions, there is a possibility that crewmembers will be susceptible to certain diseases during exploration class missions.
Subclinical altered human immune function has been documented in crewmembers post-flight & in-flight (cytokine shifts, cell distribution shifts, specific changes in viral immunity or reactivation of latent viruses).
These immune changes persist for the duration of a 6-month orbital flight. On-orbit clinical issues believed related to persistent immune dysregulation include increased incidence of skin rashes, various infectious processes and continued shedding of latent herpesviruses. Alterations to the immune function due to long duration missions is unknown.
Future countermeasures may include: Operational procedures, functional foods, nutritional supplements, nutraceuticals, probiotics, pharmaceuticals, exercise, vaccination, behavioral countermeasures, bone countermeasures, personalized/precision medicine.
Two decades of ground and flight studies in low-Earth orbit (LEO) have documented a phenomenon consisting of reduced T and NK cell function, normal B cell function, and persistent inflammation (elevations in inflammatory cytokines).
Occurring in parallel, likely with a cause-effect relationship, is the reactivation of latent herpesviruses, documented by the detection of virus DNA (with live infectious particles) in saliva or urine. In select crewmembers, adverse clinical events occur, such as infections, atopic dermatitis, or atypical allergy symptoms, likely related to persistent immune dysregulation.
These functional immune changes are likely due to a combination of stressors, seen in both LEO missions as well as in terrestrial analogs, including isolation and confinement, physical and psychological stress, circadian misalignment, nutritional contributors and others.
The International Space Station (ISS), residing in LEO, is exposed to higher radiation levels compared with Earth, but the levels and types of radiation found in deep space will be higher and more detrimental to many aspects of human health. Little data exists on the potential added or synergistic effect of such radiation exposure on the immune changes seen on ISS.
There’s more of factors which affected for immune functional like DNA changes.
The impact of modeled microgravity and prior radiation exposure on cytomegalovirus reactivation and host immune evasion.
Functional Immune -The impact of an ISS mission on the anti-viral and functional properties of NK-cells, T-cells, B-cells and dendritic cells (Simpson).
The Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Microgravity on Salivary Markers of Innate Immunity.
Monitoring the Cellular Immunity by in vitro Delayed Type Hypersensitivity Assay on ISS.
Deep Space Exploration Atmosphere Effects on Hematologic, Immunologic, and Oxidative Stress and Damage Parameters in Astronauts: An ISS Flight Study.
Microbial Risk Assessment and Integration.
AstroSpider