Creation of Space Immunology by space and ground experiments

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K19537
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Pathology, Infection/Immunology, and related fields
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Murakami Masaaki 北海道大学, 遺伝子病制御研究所, 教授 (00250514)
• Research Collaborator: Kamimura Daisuke ; Arima Yasunobu ; Shirakawa Masaki ; Shiba Dai ; Yumoto Akane ; Ueda Hiroki ; Tainaka Kazuki
• Project Period (FY): 2017-06-30 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 炎症 / ゲートウェイ反射 / 宇宙 / 重力

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have reported that gravity stimulation induces regional neural activations to create an immune cell gateway to the CNS via alteration of specific vessels, a phenomenon called the gateway reflex. In this study, we aimed to study a relation between gravity and inflammatory diseases by a combination of ground and space experiments, and develop a research field of the space immunology. We have performed feasibility studies including the establishment of pathogenic T cell clones, overcome of time lag till sampling, and effects of over-gravity and impact during launch, with successful results. Although the space experiment was originally scheduled within the research term, it was postponed, which will be conducted in 2019.

Free Research Field

免疫学、炎症学、神経免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

地球の重力は、地上生物にとって避けられない刺激であり、進化的にも保存された何らかの免疫学的な応答機構が存在する可能性が高く、それらを研究することは、重力と言う環境要因が我々の健康へどのように関連するのかを探る点でも、さらに、将来的な宇宙開発を進める点でも重要な意義をもつ。