Simulated Microgravity Impairs Human NK Cell Cytotoxic Activity Against Space Radiation-Relevant Leukemic Cells

Natural killer (NK) cells are important effectors of the innate immune system. Unlike T cells, NK cells do not require antigen-priming, making them an important first-line of defense against malignant cells. Because of the potential for increased cancer risk as a result of astronaut exposure to space radiation, we performed studies to determine whether conditions of microgravity present during spaceflight affects the body’s natural defenses against leukemogenesis. Human NK cells were cultured for 48 hours under normal gravity and simulated microgravity (smG), and cytotoxicity against K-562 (CML) and MOLT-4 (T-ALL) cell lines was measured using standard methodology or under continuous conditions of smG. Even this brief exposure to smG markedly reduced NK cytotoxicity against both leukemic cells using standard assay procedures, and these deleterious effects were even more pronounced in continuous smG. RNA-seq performed on NK cells from two healthy donors provided insight into the mechanism(s) by which smG reduced cytotoxicity. Given our prior report that human HSC exposed to simulated space radiation gave rise to T-ALL in vivo, the reduced cytotoxicity against MOLT-4 is striking and raises the possibility thatmG may add to astronaut risk of leukemogenesis during prolonged missions beyond LEO.