[The effect of simulated weightlessness on the function of spleen lymphocytes and the expression of c-fos proto-oncogene in tail-suspended mice].

ABSTRACT

Objective. To investigate the effect of simulated weightlessness on proliferation of spleen lymphocyte, production of interleukin-2 and expression of c-fos proto-oncogene in mice. Method. Mice were tail-suspended for 7 or 14 days to simulate the effect of weightlessness; proliferation of lymphocyte was measured by MTT method, production of IL-2 was determined by biological activity and expression of c-fos proto-oncogene was determined by dot blotting. Result. As compared with the control, the proliferation of spleen lymphocyte and the production of IL-2 were significantly decreased in 14 d suspended group, but the expression of c-fos proto-oncogene [correction of oncogen] was increased in both 7 d and 14 d suspended groups. Conclusion. This result suggested that simulated weightlessness could interfere with the genes regulating the lymphocyte.