Socioenvironmental stressors encountered during spaceflight partially affect the murine TCR-β repertoire and increase its self-reactivity

What is it about?

Space is an adverse environment in which astronauts encounter different stressors (radiations, change in gravity force, socio-environmental perturbations). This combination of stressors is known for affecting the immune system thereby challenging astronaut's health and safety. In a previous study, we demonstrated that hypergravity exposure during in utero mice development modified 85% of T cell antigen receptors (TCR). Here, we investigated whether socio-environmental stressors encountered during space missions affect T cell development and TCR. To address this question, pregnant mice were subjected, throughout gestation, to a model used to mimic socio-environmental stresses encountered during space missions. Our data have revealed that socio-environmental stressors such as those encountered during space missions modify 25% of the TCR and that these stressors could increase self-reactivity. Note that the results of this study go beyond astronaut health protection because the model of socio-environmental stressors used in this study can also be used to study the impact of everyday life stresses and it is now well established that stress can contribute to the development, or aggravation of several pathologies.

Featured Image