Table 1 Summary of studies on the relationship between Systemic and Ocular Immunology and Inflammation with SANS.

Spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) and the neuro-ophthalmologic effects of microgravity: a review and an update

Review Article

Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) that diminishes upon reentry into the terrestrial 1G environment may engender additional regional structural alterations potentially leading to subsequent inflammation or oxidative stress.

[7]

Spaceflight Effects and Molecular Responses in the Mouse Eye: Preliminary Observations After Shuttle Mission STS-133

Research Article

Spaceflight induces ocular changes in mice, including increased retinal 8-OHdG and caspase-3 levels upon return but decreased at day 7, along with β-amyloid presence in optic nerve fibers. Gene expression shows upregulation of oxidative and cellular stress response pathways upon landing, suggesting reversible molecular damage and induced protective mechanisms in response to spaceflight.

[15]

Plasma Cytokine Concentrations Indicate That In Vivo Hormonal Regulation of Immunity Is Altered During Long-Duration Spaceflight

Research Article

Baseline cytokine levels were generally low, while IL-1ra and chemokines were present. In-flight, IL-8, TNFα, CCL2, CCL4, and CXCL5 increased, suggesting inflammation. Consistent elevations in IL-1ra imply an adaptive response, while post-flight samples trended towards baseline, indicating potential recovery.

[5]

Alterations in adaptive immunity persist during long-duration spaceflight

Research Article

Astronauts experienced persistent immune system alterations including leukocyte redistribution, CD8+ T-cell maturation changes, and reduced T-cell function, as well as altered cytokine production profiles.

[16]