Effects of Corticosterone and Microgravity on Inflammatory Cell Production of Superoxide

In this investigation we studied the effects of corticosterone and microgravity on Propionibacterium acnes‐induced inflammatory cells ability to produce superoxide (O 2 ‐ ). We found in vitro and in vivo exposure of murine peritoneal inflammatory cells to corticosterone did not inhibit the O 2 ‐ response. We also found that in microgravity P . acnes‐induced inflammatory cells were capable of producing four times as much O 2 ‐ as at 1g. Therefore, neither corticosterone nor microgravity experienced during parabolic flight prevents an O 2 ‐ response by inflammatory cells.