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PAthway DIfferent ACtivators (PADIAC)
04.26.13

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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview

This content was provided by Isabelle Walther, Ph.D., and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Information provided courtesy of the Erasmus Experiment Archive.
Brief Summary

PAthway DIfferent Activators (PADIAC) plans to improve the knowledge of the immune system by studying T-cell (mature white blood cells from the thymus) activation in microgravity.

Principal Investigator(s)

  • Isabelle Walther, Ph.D., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Space Biology, Zurich, Switzerland

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

  • Proto Pippia, Universiy of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
  • Augusto Cogoli, Ph.D., Zero-g Tec GmbH, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Millie Hughes-Fulford, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States

    • Developer(s)

    Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Space Biology, Zurich, , Switzerland

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    European Space Agency (ESA)

    Sponsoring Organization

    Information Pending

    Research Benefits

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration

    September 2010 - March 2011

    Expeditions Assigned

    25/26

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment Description

    Research Overview

    • PAthway DIfferent Activators (PADIAC) will test the hypothesis that the inhibition of interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor expression on T-cells (mature white blood cells from the thymus) in microgravity is due to a sensitivity of the CD28 (molecule required for T-Cell stimulation) co-stimulatory (crucial to the development of an effective immune response) pathway to microgravity and determine how microgravity affects the expression of genes mediated by CD28 activation.


    • PADIAC will compare the gene expression between the different activation pathways and clearly distinguish the effect of microgravity from other space flight factors by utilizing a centrifuge to deliver 1-g forces on board the ISS.

    Description

    Mammalian cells subjected to conditions of simulated microgravity on ground as well as to space flight conditions are showing alterations in their structure and function. Changes in proliferation, differentiation and genetic expression have been demonstrated in several types of cells. Among the mammalian cells, the cells of the immune system, in particular, are severely affected by the space environment. Especially T-lymphocytes are altered in their activation process. Changes in growth rate, cytokine production, locomotion, gene expression and protein kinase C (PKC) distribution have been observed on Space Shuttle flights. The main objectives of this proposal are to further investigate, using several activators, the genetic expression of the co-stimulatory transduction pathway mediated by the CD28, to assess whether the IL-1 receptor is involved in the inhibition of the activation, to see if the activation is also restored in space as it is in simulated microgravity using anti-CD3/IL-2 and to determine which genes are than expressed under these special conditions.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Information Pending

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    PADIAC will utilize thirteen dedicated Type-1 Experiment Containers (EC). The experiment will be uploaded on Space Shuttle in passive thermal control unit to maintain the temperature above +25 degrees C to ensure good viability of the samples. Upon arrival to ISS, the ECs are installed in the Kubik incubator, prewarmed to +37 degrees C. Following a short pre-incubation period the experiment is started by adding activator. Samples are then fixed with RNAlaterTM at 2, 4 and 24-hour intervals after activation. Following fixation the cassettes are stowed refrigerated in the case of download within a few days of fixation. For longer on-orbit stowage (less than 2 weeks) the samples are maintained at -20 degrees C until download.

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Related Websites
  • The information on this page is provided courtesy of the ESA Erasmus Experiment Archive.

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    Imagery

    image PADIAC hardware, image courtesy of ESA.
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    image NASA Image: ISS025E006732 - NASA astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock, Expedition 25 commander, holds up items unpacked from the Soyuz.
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    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Research-Helpline.
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