| Popis: |
Publisher Summary Lymphocytes exposed to spaceflight or altered gravity exhibit significant growth attenuation and changes in metabolism, cytoskeletal structure, and gene expression. A significant body of evidence is accumulating to implicate the cytoskeleton in the atypical response of lymphocytes in microgravity. This chapter reviews the effects of spaceflight and altered gravity on cytoskeletal morphology and expression of cytoskeletal genes in T lymphocytes and established T-cell lines. Other mammalian cell types are included for comparison. The effects of simulated shuttle launch vibration are discussed based on research showing that vibration during launch may disrupt the cytoskeleton and alter gene expression. Ground-based vibration studies provide baseline information for distinguishing effects of vibration from effects of the microgravity environment per se. As cytoskeletal disruption is one of several factors known to exacerbate apoptosis, and because of the apparent increase in programmed cell death in space-flown cells, apoptosis is also discussed in the chapter. |
