DRY IMMERSION EFFECT ON LATENT SENSITIZATION TO FOOD-BORNE AND INHALATION ALLERGENS

It is well known that in space missions the human organism undergoes changes including those in the immunity system. The main effects of microgravity are the subject of analog studies such as dry immersion (DI). The paper deals with the results of testing the specific sensitization to food-borne and inhalation allergens by activation of basophils in essentially healthy volunteers for the DI experiments. Six females participated in 5-day DI and 7 males participated in 7-day DI. Allergic anamnesis was collected using a purpose designed questionnaire with 21 questions. Peripheral blood was sampled to measure the degree of basophil activation in response to allergens in vitro using flow cytometry. Results of the investigation evidence that DI alters basophilic reactivity induced by allergens.