SPACE IMMUNOLOGY: MECHANISMS OF IMMUNE DYSREGULATION IN MICROGRAVITY

Space exploration presents unique physiological challenges, with immune dysregulation 
emerging as a critical concern for astronaut health during long-duration missions. The immune 
system, a highly adaptive network, is particularly sensitive to the stressors of spaceflight, 
including microgravity, cosmic radiation, disrupted circadian rhythms, and confinement. 
Evidence from space missions and ground-based analogs demonstrates that microgravity 
significantly alters both innate and adaptive immunity, leading to impaired pathogen defense, 
heightened inflammatory responses, and reactivation of latent viruses.