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Neuroendocrine and Immune Responses in Humans During and After Long Term Stay at ISS (Immuno)
05.15.09

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

Neuroendocrine and Immune Responses in Humans During and After Long Term Stay at ISS (Immuno) will provide an understanding for the development of pharmacological tools to counter unwanted immunological side effects during long-duration missions in space.

Principal Investigator

  • Alexander Chouker, M.D., University of Munich, Munich, Germany

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

  • Manfred Thiel, M.D., Ph.D., University of Munich, Munich, Germany
  • G. Schelling, M.D., Ph.D., University of Munich, Munich, Germany
  • M. Vogeser, M.D., University of Munich, Munich, Germany
  • I. Kaufmann, M.D., University of Munich, Munich, Germany
  • M. Adam, M.D., University of Munich, Munich, Germany
  • F. Christ, M.D., Ph.D., University of Munich, Munich, Germany
  • A. Mehl, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    • Payload Developer

    German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany

    Sponsoring Agency

    European Space Agency (ESA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |14|15|16|18|19|20|

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • The aim of this experiment is to determine changes in stress and immune responses, during and after a stay on the ISS. This will include the sampling of saliva, blood and urine to check for hormones associated with stress response and for carrying out white blood cell analysis. There will also be a focus on the adaptation of energy metabolism, which can affect immune response.


    • An increased understanding of the coupling between stress and the functioning of the immune system also has relevance for people on Earth.

    Description

    Immuno will determine neuroendocrine and immunological changes during and after working and living on the ISS. A focus on cellular energy metabolism and cell signaling will provide additional information on the psycho-neuroendocrine and immunologic adaptation of human physiology to space and a better insight on how these processes are dependent on the cellular level of signal processing.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Immuno aims to provide the understanding for the development of pharmacological tools to countermeasure unwanted immunological side effects during long-duration missions into space.

    Earth Applications

    The Immuno investigation will provide insight into the disease process of immunocompromised humans on Earth.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Immuno will involve taking several preflight and inflight measurements. A Current Stress Test (CST), paper stress test designed to repeatedly determine an individuals? psychological state under the conditions of acute and chronic stress, is taken. A urine collection will be performed for determination of dopamine or epinephrine in urine collected within 24 hours. A saliva collection will be performed in the morning and in the evening by chewing on a cotton swab for 30-45 seconds. Fluid will then be removed from the swab by centrifugation and kept frozen at -20 degrees C. Blood collections will also be performed to analyze the blood and blood components. This experiment is planned to be carried out over multiple ISS Increment crews, requiring six subjects in total.

    Operational Protocols

    A preflight test will be conducted between launch minus 30 days (L-30) and launch minus 7 days (L-7). Two inflight sample collections will occur; the first between launch plus 30 days (L+30) and launch plus 90 days (L+90). The second inflight sample collection will occur between launch plus 150 days (L+150) and return minus 14 days (R-14).

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Related Web Sites
  • Columbus Mission - European Experiment Programme

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications
      • Chouker A, Demetz F, Martignoni A, Smith L, Setzer F, Bauer A, Holzl J, Peter K, Christ F, Manfred T. Strenuous physical exercise inhibits granulocyte activation induced by high altitude. Journal of Applied Physiology. ;98(2):640-647. 2005

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      Images

      imageBlood sample showing white blood cells: Lymphocytes (L) and Granulocytes (G). Image courtesy of ESA.
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      Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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