Objective: To investigate the effects of simulated weightlessness on antitumor immunity of T lymphocytes in mice.
Methods: The malignant melanoma was xenografted by subcutaneous injection of B16 cells into the right hind limb of every mouse. The mice suspended by tail at a -15 degree to 20 degree head-down tilt were used as simulated weightlessness models. The effects of simulated weightlessness on tumor volume and survival time were observed. T the numbers of leucocytes, lymphocytes and T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of tumor-bearing mice under simulated weightlessness were monitored by an automatic hemacytometer and a flow cytometer. The effects of simulated weightlessness on the production of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ in T lymphocytes and the cytotoxicities of tumor-specific CTLs to tumor cells were analyzed by ELISA and LDH release.
Results: Compared with control group, the tumors grew faster, the survival times were shorter, the number of lymphocytes, the ratio of lymphocytes, CD3(+);, CD4(+);/CD3(+); and CD8(+);/CD3(+); T lymphocytes in peripheral blood dropped, and the proliferation of splenic T lymphocytes induced by mitogen was reduced (P<0.05 or P<0.01) in the simulated weightlessness group. The production of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ induced by tumor cells and cytotoxicities of tumor-specific CTLs to tumor cells were inhibited in mice under simulated weightlessness (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
Conclusion: Simulated weightlessness inhibits antitumor immunity of T lymphocytes.