SynthesisFrontiers in immunology2025
Effects of isolated, confined and extreme environments on parameters of the immune system - a systematic review.
Synthesis in Frontiers in immunology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- A multimodal EMG and IMU dataset for assessing the quality of exercises designed for spatially constrained environments.Data in brief · 2026Article
- Sensory Deprivation and the Brain: Neurobiological Mechanisms, Psychological Effects, and Clinical Implications.Brain sciences · 2026Review
- Wearable-derived heart rate variability responses to a mind-body exercise intervention in older people from high southern latitudes (Chilean Patagonia, ~53°S).Frontiers in physiology · 2026Article
- Review
- Physical Activity Guidelines for Astronauts: An Immunological Perspective.Biomolecules · 2025Review
- Effects of one year of extreme isolation in Antarctica on olfactory and gustatory functions.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Immune System-Tumor Crosstalk Under Microgravity: Mechanistic Insights, Challenges, and Translational Perspectives.Cancers · 2025Review
- Behavioral adaptation in diet maintains nutrient composition in an isolated, confined, and extreme environment in Antarctica.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: The immune system is a crucial part of the body's defense against infection and disease. However, individuals in antigen-limited environments face unique challenges that can weaken their immune systems. This systematic review aimed to investigate the impact of an exposure to an isolated, confined and extreme (ICE) environment with limited antigen diversity on human immune parameters. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library to identify relevant studies on immune system parameters in ICE environments. The studies were grouped by ICE type (space missions, microgravity simulations like bed rest studies, space simulation units like MARS500, and Antarctic research stations) to allow for clearer comparison and analysis of immune outcomes. Results: Analysis of 140 studies revealed considerable heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, reflecting the complexity of immune responses across ICE environments. Nevertheless, immune dysregulation was consistently observed across environments. Space missions and Antarctic stations, in particular, showed pronounced immune changes, likely due to low antigen diversity and extreme conditions, with higher rates of infections and allergic responses suggesting increased vulnerability. Space simulation units exhibited immune changes similar to those in actual space missions, while gravity simulation studies, which focus on fluid shifts and bone loss, showed fewer immune alterations. Across environments, most immunological measures returned to baseline after isolation, indicating resilience and the potential for recovery upon re-exposure to diverse antigens. Conclusion: Reduced antigen diversity in ICE environments disrupts immune function, with effects often compounded by extreme conditions. Although immune resilience and recovery post-isolation are promising, the heterogeneity in current studies highlights the need for targeted research to identify specific immune vulnerabilities and to develop countermeasures. Such measures could reduce immune-related health risks for individuals in isolated settings, including astronauts, polar researchers, and vulnerable populations on Earth, such as the elderly or immunocompromised, thereby enhancing resilience in confined environments. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023476132.
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