CELL CULTURE MODULE - IMMUNE RESPONSE OF HUMAN MONOCYTES IN
MICROGRAVITY (CCM-IMMUNE RESPONSE)
Research Area: Immune System
Expeditions: 15
Principal Investigator(s): ● William Wiesmann, MD, Hawaii Chitopure, Honolulu, Hawaii
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Cell Culture Module - Immune Response of Human Monocytes in Microgravity (CCM-Immune
Response) is a Department of Defense Space Test Program research that uses cell culture in
microgravity as a model of reduced immune function. This investigation examines the response
of human immune cells in microgravity to new chitosan-based antibacterials.
EARTH BENEFITS
Where textile dressings stem the loss of blood by direct pressure, chitosan bandages actively
clot the wound. These bandages are now standard issue for U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq and
Afghanistan. This investigation provides a test of chitosan as a cell culture matrix and more
information into its bacteriological properties, which further development of chitosan for
military and civilian uses.
SPACE BENEFITS
Spaceflight crews traveling to the moon or Mars in microgravity may experience injury or
trauma. The chitosan-based experiment results help to find new and improved wound-healing
treatment for crew members as well as for the needs of military personnel in space and for
future space travel.
RESULTS
Preliminary results from CCM-
Immune Response show that the
cells were successfully cultured and
returned to Earth. Monocytes
without chitosan did not survive the
bacterial infection; whereas, the
monocytes with chitosan were
protected and survived. Preliminary
analysis shows the potential for a
new pharmaceutical to fight large-
scale bacterial infections.This investigation is complete;
however additional results are
pending publication.S118E10350 – Seen in this image is the hardware that houses the
Cell Culture Module - Immune Response of Human Monocytes in
Microgravity (CCM-Immune Response) and the Cell Culture
Module - Effect of Microgravity on Wound Repair: In Vitro Model of
New Blood Vessel Development (CCM-Wound Repair)
experiments. The experiments were flown on STS118/13A.1 in
August 2007.