On 26 November an experiment in a sounding rocket was launched at Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden by a research group at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) at Karolinska Institutet. The experiment aims to collect data for a study that examines how a type of immune cell, T cells, are affected by lack of gravity, called microgravity.
Professor Lisa Westerberg , research group leader at MTC, what is the aim of the study?
"About 50% of astronauts have an impaired immune system during and after space flights. Understanding how the immune system is affected in space is important when planning missions to the Moon and Mars. In this study, we will examine how a type of immune cell, T cells, from blood samples of healthy volunteers are affected by lack of gravity, so-called microgravity. Our working hypothesis is that early activation of T cells, sensed by the T cell cytoskeleton, is affected by loss of gravity".
How did you conduct the experiment?
"We have developed a microfluidics device together with Sioux Technologies to inject T cells at the start of the microgravity in the sounding rocket. The sounding rocket was launched on Tuesday, November 26 at 06.00 and went up to 260 km in space. The T cells were exposed to 5 minutes of microgravity during T cell activation on glass coverslips. Preliminary data suggests that T cells adhered to the glass coverslips during microgravity".
Why are these results important?
"This is quite a unique experiment as it combines analysis of T cell activation by microscopy and transcriptomic changes, linking early T cell activation to rapid changes in gene activation and how this is affected in microgravity. In the experiment, we have included healthy donor T cells as well as T cells gene-edited to have mutations that cause immunodeficiency diseases".
How can this new knowledge contribute to improving human health?
"Understanding how the immune cells are affected in space will help us understand the important sensors for immune cells, of which gravity is one. Overall, studies of so-called immunodeficiency diseases help us understand what is needed for immune cell activation and the immune response at large".
What is the next step in your research?
"We have generated data to be analyzed, which will take us at least half a year to analyze, likely longer. The sounding rocket experiment will be followed by the usage of other space analogs including a random posting machine that allows us to examine both short-term and long-term responses of immune cells".
Collaboration
The experiment is sponsored by the European Space Agency and the Swedish Space Agency
