Research progress on effects of spaceflight environmental factors on immune function and corresponding Traditional Chinese Medicine protection
10.16289/j.cnki.1002-0837.2025.04008
- VernacularTitle:航天飞行环境因素对免疫系统功能的影响及中药防护研究进展
- Author:
Jinfeng LIU
1
;
Wei ZHOU
;
Xiaoying WANG
;
Zhijie BAI
;
Yue GAO
Author Information
1. 军事科学院军事医学研究院,北京 100850;天津中医药大学,天津 301617
- Keywords:
space environment;
microgravity;
radiation;
innate immunity;
adaptive immunity;
immune dysfunction
- From:Space Medicine & Medical Engineering
2025;36(4):322-330
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
With the advancement of space exploration missions,space station operations have entered a routine phase,where single-flight missions last up to six months.Previous studies indicate that the spaceflight environment severely compromises the immune system,increasing the susceptibility to diseases.As primary responders to pathogenic challenges,immune cells exhibit exceptional sensitivity to gravitational alterations and background ionizing radiation in space,with their dysfunction being a critical health risk.For innate immunity,the complex space environment disrupts macrophage polarization and phagocytosis,neutrophil chemotaxis and killing,natural killer(NK)cell cytotoxicity,and dendritic cell maturation,leading to functional impairment of innate immune defenses.For adaptive immunity,microgravity and radiation induce cellular immune dysregulation by suppressing T cell proliferative capacity and perturbing Th1/Th2/Treg subset balance,while simultaneously undermining humoral immunity through interference with B-lymphocyte protein synthesis,blockade of developmental maturation,and reduction of effector B cell populations.This review summarizes recent advances in understanding space environment-induced immune perturbations and protection options using traditional Chinese medicine,focusing on microgravity and radiation.It not only deciphers molecular mechanisms underpinning immune cell dysfunction but also provides a theoretical foundation and drug-targeting strategies for developing countermeasures against spaceflight-specific immune dysfunction.
