Long-term major histocompatibility complex class I suppression in astronauts and clinical implications.

Authors

Erik LeRoy, JangKeun Kim, Helena Ruland, Nathan Schanzer, Anurag Sakharkar, Lucinda Innes, Zachary Feinstein, Daniel Zuniga Gamboa, Robert Chen, Mohith Reddy Arikatla, Kubra Can Kurt, Brian E Crucian, Michael A Schmidt, Christopher E Mason

Published in

Communications biology. Volume 9. Issue 1. Aug 06, 2026. Epub Aug 06, 2026.

Abstract

Spaceflight can disrupt astronaut immunity, including sustained downregulation of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I genes across missions ranging from the three-day Inspiration4 flight to long-duration International Space Station stays. MHC class I downregulation is a known mechanism of immune evasion in cancer and viral infection, potentially increasing health risks during and after spaceflight. The underlying mechanisms, clinical implications and therapeutic options remain underexplored. This Perspective discusses long-term risks associated with astronaut MHC class I suppression, proposes future research directions and outlines therapeutic approaches with broader relevance to related health challenges on Earth.

PMID:
42562863
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 07 Aug 2026.

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