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Transcriptional changes and preservation of bone mass in hibernating black bears. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8281. [PMID: 33859306 PMCID: PMC8050052 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87785-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical inactivity leads to losses of bone mass and strength in most mammalian species. In contrast, hibernating bears show no bone loss over the prolonged periods (4–6 months) of immobility during winter, which suggests that they have adaptive mechanisms to preserve bone mass. To identify transcriptional changes that underlie molecular mechanisms preventing disuse osteoporosis, we conducted a large-scale gene expression screening in the trabecular bone and bone marrow, comparing hibernating and summer active bears through sequencing of the transcriptome. Gene set enrichment analysis showed a coordinated down-regulation of genes involved in bone resorption, osteoclast differentiation and signaling, and apoptosis during hibernation. These findings are consistent with previous histological findings and likely contribute to the preservation of bone during the immobility of hibernation. In contrast, no significant enrichment indicating directional changes in gene expression was detected in the gene sets of bone formation and osteoblast signaling in hibernating bears. Additionally, we revealed significant and coordinated transcriptional induction of gene sets involved in aerobic energy production including fatty acid beta oxidation, tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial metabolism. Mitochondrial oxidation was likely up-regulated by transcriptionally induced AMPK/PGC1α pathway, an upstream stimulator of mitochondrial function.
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2
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Donahue SW, Wojda SJ, McGee-Lawrence ME, Auger J, Black HL. Osteoporosis prevention in an extraordinary hibernating bear. Bone 2021; 145:115845. [PMID: 33450432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.115845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Disuse osteoporosis results from physical inactivity. Reduced mechanical loading of bone stimulates bone resorption leading to bone loss, decreased mechanical properties, and increased fracture risk. Compensatory mechanisms evolved in hibernators to preserve skeletal muscle and bone during the prolonged physical inactivity that occurs during annual hibernation. This paper reports the preservation of bone properties in an exceptionally old black bear that was physically inactive for about 6 months annually for 31 years. The biological mechanisms that preserve bone during prolonged disuse during hibernation are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth W Donahue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States of America.
| | - Samantha J Wojda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States of America
| | - Meghan E McGee-Lawrence
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, United States of America
| | - Janene Auger
- Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, United States of America
| | - Hal L Black
- Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, United States of America
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3
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Zhang J, Chang H, Yin R, Xu S, Wang H, Gao Y. A temporal study on musculoskeletal morphology and metabolism in hibernating Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus). Bone 2021; 144:115826. [PMID: 33348129 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2020.115826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hibernators provide a natural model to study the mechanisms underlying the prevention of disuse-induced musculoskeletal deterioration. Currently, however, these mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated changes in morphology and metabolic indices in the hindlimb skeletal muscle and bone of Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus) during different periods of hibernation, and further explored the possible mechanisms involved in the musculoskeletal maintenance of hibernators after prolonged inactivity. Results showed that, compared with levels in the summer active group (SA), almost all morphological indices of skeletal muscle and bone, including muscle mass, muscle fiber cross-sectional area, bone mass, bone length, and bone mechanical properties, were unchanged in the different periods of hibernation. Only a few microstructural parameters of bone showed deterioration in the post-hibernation group (POST), including increased specific bone surface (+71%), decreased trabecular thickness (-43%), and decreased average cortical thickness (-51%) in the tibia, and increased trabecular separation (+60%) in the femur. Furthermore, most examined metabolic indices involved in muscle protein turnover and bone remodeling were unchanged, except for several indices in the inter-bout arousal group (IBA), i.e., increase in the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) (IBA vs. SA, +80%) in the vastus medialis muscle, increase in chymotrypsin-like activity (IBA vs. SA, +62%) in the tibialis anterior muscle, increase in osteoblast number (IBA vs. SA, +110%; IBA vs. torpor (TOR), +68%) and osteoclast number (IBA vs. TOR, +105%) per bone surface in the tibia, and increase in osteoclast surface per bone surface (IBA vs. TOR, +128%) in the femur. The above evidence demonstrates that the musculoskeletal morphology of squirrels was largely preserved, and musculoskeletal metabolism was generally maintained after prolonged hibernation inactivity. These findings suggest that the well-maintained musculoskeletal metabolism may be a vital mechanism underlying the preservation of the musculoskeletal system during hibernation. The coincident up-regulation of several metabolic indicators during IBA indicates that musculoskeletal metabolism may be relatively active during this period; however, its role in musculoskeletal maintenance during hibernation needs further clarification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Hui Chang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Rongrong Yin
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Shenhui Xu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Huiping Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Yunfang Gao
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi'an 710069, China.
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4
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Fazzalari A, Basadonna G, Kucukural A, Tanriverdi K, Koupenova M, Pozzi N, Kakuturu J, Friedrich AKU, Korstanje R, Fowler N, Belant JL, Beyer DE, Brooks MB, Dickson EW, Blackwood M, Mueller C, Palesty JA, Freedman JE, Cahan MA. A Translational Model for Venous Thromboembolism: MicroRNA Expression in Hibernating Black Bears. J Surg Res 2021; 257:203-212. [PMID: 32858321 PMCID: PMC11026106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hibernating American black bears have significantly different clotting parameters than their summer active counterparts, affording them protection against venous thromboembolism during prolonged periods of immobility. We sought to evaluate if significant differences exist between the expression of microRNAs in the plasma of hibernating black bears compared with their summer active counterparts, potentially contributing to differences in hemostasis during hibernation. MATERIALS AND METHODS MicroRNA sequencing was assessed in plasma from 21 American black bears in summer active (n = 11) and hibernating states (n = 10), and microRNA signatures during hibernating and active state were established using both bear and human genome. MicroRNA targets were predicted using messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts from black bear kidney cells. In vitro studies were performed to confirm the relationship between identified microRNAs and mRNA expression, using artificial microRNA and human liver cells. RESULTS Using the bear genome, we identified 15 microRNAs differentially expressed in the plasma of hibernating black bears. Of these microRNAs, three were significantly downregulated (miR-141-3p, miR-200a-3p, and miR-200c-3p), were predicted to target SERPINC1, the gene for antithrombin, and demonstrated regulatory control of the gene mRNA expression in cell studies. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the hibernating black bears' ability to maintain hemostasis and achieve protection from venous thromboembolism during prolonged periods of immobility may be due to changes in microRNA signatures and possible upregulation of antithrombin expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Fazzalari
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts; The Stanley J. Dudrick Department of Surgery, Saint Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, Connecticut
| | - Giacomo Basadonna
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Alper Kucukural
- Bioinformatics Core, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts; Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Kahraman Tanriverdi
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Milka Koupenova
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Natalie Pozzi
- The Stanley J. Dudrick Department of Surgery, Saint Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, Connecticut
| | - Jahnavi Kakuturu
- The Stanley J. Dudrick Department of Surgery, Saint Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, Connecticut
| | | | - Ron Korstanje
- The Korstanje Lab, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine
| | - Nicholas Fowler
- Camp Fire Program in Wildlife Conservation, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York
| | - Jerrold L Belant
- Camp Fire Program in Wildlife Conservation, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York
| | - Dean E Beyer
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Marquette, Michigan
| | - Marjory B Brooks
- Comparative Coagulation Section, Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Ithaca, New York
| | - Eric W Dickson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Meghan Blackwood
- Mueller Lab for Gene Therapy, Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Chris Mueller
- Mueller Lab for Gene Therapy, Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - J Alexander Palesty
- The Stanley J. Dudrick Department of Surgery, Saint Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, Connecticut
| | - Jane E Freedman
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Mitchell A Cahan
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
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5
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Shi Z, Qin M, Huang L, Xu T, Chen Y, Hu Q, Peng S, Peng Z, Qu LN, Chen SG, Tuo QH, Liao DF, Wang XP, Wu RR, Yuan TF, Li YH, Liu XM. Human torpor: translating insights from nature into manned deep space expedition. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:642-672. [PMID: 33314677 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
During a long-duration manned spaceflight mission, such as flying to Mars and beyond, all crew members will spend a long period in an independent spacecraft with closed-loop bioregenerative life-support systems. Saving resources and reducing medical risks, particularly in mental heath, are key technology gaps hampering human expedition into deep space. In the 1960s, several scientists proposed that an induced state of suppressed metabolism in humans, which mimics 'hibernation', could be an ideal solution to cope with many issues during spaceflight. In recent years, with the introduction of specific methods, it is becoming more feasible to induce an artificial hibernation-like state (synthetic torpor) in non-hibernating species. Natural torpor is a fascinating, yet enigmatic, physiological process in which metabolic rate (MR), body core temperature (Tb ) and behavioural activity are reduced to save energy during harsh seasonal conditions. It employs a complex central neural network to orchestrate a homeostatic state of hypometabolism, hypothermia and hypoactivity in response to environmental challenges. The anatomical and functional connections within the central nervous system (CNS) lie at the heart of controlling synthetic torpor. Although progress has been made, the precise mechanisms underlying the active regulation of the torpor-arousal transition, and their profound influence on neural function and behaviour, which are critical concerns for safe and reversible human torpor, remain poorly understood. In this review, we place particular emphasis on elaborating the central nervous mechanism orchestrating the torpor-arousal transition in both non-flying hibernating mammals and non-hibernating species, and aim to provide translational insights into long-duration manned spaceflight. In addition, identifying difficulties and challenges ahead will underscore important concerns in engineering synthetic torpor in humans. We believe that synthetic torpor may not be the only option for manned long-duration spaceflight, but it is the most achievable solution in the foreseeable future. Translating the available knowledge from natural torpor research will not only benefit manned spaceflight, but also many clinical settings attempting to manipulate energy metabolism and neurobehavioural functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Shi
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and Department of Psychaitry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.,Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China.,State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Meng Qin
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Lu Huang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Qin Hu
- College of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100024, China
| | - Sha Peng
- Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China
| | - Zhuang Peng
- Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China
| | - Li-Na Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Shan-Guang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Qin-Hui Tuo
- Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China
| | - Duan-Fang Liao
- Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and Department of Psychaitry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Ren-Rong Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and Department of Psychaitry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Ti-Fei Yuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226000, China
| | - Ying-Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Xin-Min Liu
- Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China.,State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.,Research Center for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
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6
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Nasoori A, Okamatsu-Ogura Y, Shimozuru M, Sashika M, Tsubota T. Hibernating bear serum hinders osteoclastogenesis in-vitro. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238132. [PMID: 32853221 PMCID: PMC7451522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Bears do not suffer from osteoporosis during hibernation, which is associated with long-term inactivity, lack of food intake, and cold exposure. However, the mechanisms involved in bone loss prevention have scarcely been elucidated in bears. We investigated the effect of serum from hibernating Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) on differentiation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to osteoclasts (OCs). PBMCs collected from 3 bears were separately cultured with 10% serum of 4 active and 4 hibernating bears (each individual serum type was assessed separately by a bear PBMCs), and differentiation were induced by treatment with macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL). PBMCs that were cultured with the active bear serum containing medium (ABSM) differentiated to multi-nucleated OCs, and were positive for TRAP stain. However, cells supplemented with hibernating bear serum containing medium (HBSM) failed to form OCs, and showed significantly lower TRAP stain (p < 0.001). On the other hand, HBSM induced proliferation of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) similarly to ABSM (p > 0.05), indicating no difference on cell growth. It was revealed that osteoclastogenesis of PBMCs is hindered by HBSM, implying an underlying mechanism for the suppressed bone resorption during hibernation in bears. In addition, this study for the first time showed the formation of bears’ OCs in-vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Nasoori
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yuko Okamatsu-Ogura
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Michito Shimozuru
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Mariko Sashika
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Toshio Tsubota
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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7
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Regan MD, Flynn-Evans EE, Griko YV, Kilduff TS, Rittenberger JC, Ruskin KJ, Buck CL. Shallow metabolic depression and human spaceflight: a feasible first step. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2020; 128:637-647. [PMID: 31999524 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00725.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic torpor is an induced state of deep metabolic depression (MD) in an organism that does not naturally employ regulated and reversible MD. If applied to spaceflight crewmembers, this metabolic state may theoretically mitigate numerous biological and logistical challenges of human spaceflight. These benefits have been the focus of numerous recent articles where, invariably, they are discussed in the context of hypothetical deep MD states in which the metabolism of crewmembers is profoundly depressed relative to basal rates. However, inducing these deep MD states in humans, particularly humans aboard spacecraft, is currently impossible. Here, we discuss shallow MD as a feasible first step toward synthetic torpor during spaceflight and summarize perspectives following a recent NASA-hosted workshop. We discuss methods to safely induce shallow MD (e.g., sleep and slow wave enhancement via acoustic and photoperiod stimulation; moderate sedation via dexmedetomidine), which we define as an ~20% depression of metabolic rate relative to basal levels. We also discuss different modes of shallow MD application (e.g., habitual versus targeted, whereby shallow MD is induced routinely throughout a mission or only under certain circumstances, respectively) and different spaceflight scenarios that would benefit from its use. Finally, we propose a multistep development plan toward the application of synthetic torpor to human spaceflight, highlighting shallow MD's role. As space agencies develop missions to send humans further into space than ever before, shallow MD has the potential to confer health benefits for crewmembers, reduce demands on spacecraft capacities, and serve as a testbed for deeper MD technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Regan
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Erin E Flynn-Evans
- Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory, Human Systems Integration Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
| | - Yuri V Griko
- Countermeasure Development Laboratory, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
| | - Thomas S Kilduff
- Biosciences Division, Center for Neuroscience, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Jon C Rittenberger
- Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital Emergency Medicine Program, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, Pennsylvania
| | - Keith J Ruskin
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - C Loren Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
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8
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Arfat Y, Rani A, Jingping W, Hocart CH. Calcium homeostasis during hibernation and in mechanical environments disrupting calcium homeostasis. J Comp Physiol B 2020; 190:1-16. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-019-01255-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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9
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The cascading effects of human food on hibernation and cellular aging in free-ranging black bears. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2197. [PMID: 30792484 PMCID: PMC6385323 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38937-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human foods have become a pervasive subsidy in many landscapes, and can dramatically alter wildlife behavior, physiology, and demography. While such subsidies can enhance wildlife condition, they can also result in unintended negative consequences on individuals and populations. Seasonal hibernators possess a remarkable suite of adaptations that increase survival and longevity in the face of resource and energetic limitations. Recent work has suggested hibernation may also slow the process of senescence, or cellular aging. We investigated how use of human foods influences hibernation, and subsequently cellular aging, in a large-bodied hibernator, black bears (Ursus americanus). We quantified relative telomere length, a molecular marker for cellular age, and compared lengths in adult female bears longitudinally sampled over multiple seasons. We found that bears that foraged more on human foods hibernated for shorter periods of time. Furthermore, bears that hibernated for shorter periods of time experienced accelerated telomere attrition. Together these results suggest that although hibernation may ameliorate cellular aging, foraging on human food subsidies could counteract this process by shortening hibernation. Our findings highlight how human food subsidies can indirectly influence changes in aging at the molecular level.
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10
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Donahue SW. Krogh's principle for musculoskeletal physiology and pathology. JOURNAL OF MUSCULOSKELETAL & NEURONAL INTERACTIONS 2018; 18:284-291. [PMID: 30179205 PMCID: PMC6146200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
August Krogh was a comparative physiologist who used frogs, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, and horses in his research that led to his Nobel Prize on muscle physiology. His idea to choose the most relevant organism to study problems in physiology has become known as Krogh's principle. Indeed, many important discoveries in physiology have been made using naturally occurring animal models. However, the majority of research today utilizes laboratory mouse and rat models to study problems in physiology. This paper discusses how Krogh's principle can be invoked in musculoskeletal research as a complementary approach to using standard laboratory rodent models for solving problems in musculoskeletal physiology. This approach may increase our ability to treat musculoskeletal diseases clinically. For example, it has been noted that progress in osteogenesis imperfecta research has been limited by the absence of a naturally occurring animal model. Several examples of naturally occurring animal models are discussed including osteoarthritis and osteosarcoma in dogs, resistance to disuse induced bone and skeletal muscle loss in mammalian hibernators, and bone phenotypic plasticity in fish lacking osteocytes. Many musculoskeletal diseases (e.g., osteoarthritis) occur naturally in companion animals, which may provide clues on etiology and progression of musculoskeletal diseases and accelerate the development of pharmaceutical therapies for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth W. Donahue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, USA,Corresponding author: Seth W. Donahue, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA E-mail:
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11
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Griko Y, Regan MD. Synthetic torpor: A method for safely and practically transporting experimental animals aboard spaceflight missions to deep space. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2018; 16:101-107. [PMID: 29475515 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Animal research aboard the Space Shuttle and International Space Station has provided vital information on the physiological, cellular, and molecular effects of spaceflight. The relevance of this information to human spaceflight is enhanced when it is coupled with information gleaned from human-based research. As NASA and other space agencies initiate plans for human exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), incorporating animal research into these missions is vitally important to understanding the biological impacts of deep space. However, new technologies will be required to integrate experimental animals into spacecraft design and transport them beyond LEO in a safe and practical way. In this communication, we propose the use of metabolic control technologies to reversibly depress the metabolic rates of experimental animals while in transit aboard the spacecraft. Compared to holding experimental animals in active metabolic states, the advantages of artificially inducing regulated, depressed metabolic states (called synthetic torpor) include significantly reduced mass, volume, and power requirements within the spacecraft owing to reduced life support requirements, and mitigated radiation- and microgravity-induced negative health effects on the animals owing to intrinsic physiological properties of torpor. In addition to directly benefitting animal research, synthetic torpor-inducing systems will also serve as test beds for systems that may eventually hold human crewmembers in similar metabolic states on long-duration missions. The technologies for inducing synthetic torpor, which we discuss, are at relatively early stages of development, but there is ample evidence to show that this is a viable idea and one with very real benefits to spaceflight programs. The increasingly ambitious goals of world's many spaceflight programs will be most quickly and safely achieved with the help of animal research systems transported beyond LEO; synthetic torpor may enable this to be done as practically and inexpensively as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Griko
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, United States.
| | - Matthew D Regan
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI 53706, United States
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12
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Faherty SL, Villanueva‐Cañas JL, Blanco MB, Albà MM, Yoder AD. Transcriptomics in the wild: Hibernation physiology in free‐ranging dwarf lemurs. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:709-722. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - José Luis Villanueva‐Cañas
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC‐Universitat Pompeu Fabra) Barcelona Spain
- Evolutionary Genomics Group Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB) Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM) Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) Barcelona Spain
| | | | - M. Mar Albà
- Evolutionary Genomics Group Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB) Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM) Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) Barcelona Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) Barcelona Spain
| | - Anne D. Yoder
- Department of Biology Duke University Durham NC USA
- Duke Lemur Center Durham NC USA
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13
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Novel treatment strategies for chronic kidney disease: insights from the animal kingdom. Nat Rev Nephrol 2018; 14:265-284. [PMID: 29332935 DOI: 10.1038/nrneph.2017.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Many of the >2 million animal species that inhabit Earth have developed survival mechanisms that aid in the prevention of obesity, kidney disease, starvation, dehydration and vascular ageing; however, some animals remain susceptible to these complications. Domestic and captive wild felids, for example, show susceptibility to chronic kidney disease (CKD), potentially linked to the high protein intake of these animals. By contrast, naked mole rats are a model of longevity and are protected from extreme environmental conditions through mechanisms that provide resistance to oxidative stress. Biomimetic studies suggest that the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) offers protection in extreme environmental conditions and promotes longevity in the animal kingdom. Similarly, during months of fasting, immobilization and anuria, hibernating bears are protected from muscle wasting, azotaemia, thrombotic complications, organ damage and osteoporosis - features that are often associated with CKD. Improved understanding of the susceptibility and protective mechanisms of these animals and others could provide insights into novel strategies to prevent and treat several human diseases, such as CKD and ageing-associated complications. An integrated collaboration between nephrologists and experts from other fields, such as veterinarians, zoologists, biologists, anthropologists and ecologists, could introduce a novel approach for improving human health and help nephrologists to find novel treatment strategies for CKD.
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14
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Griko YV, Rask JC, Raychev R. Advantage of Animal Models with Metabolic Flexibility for Space Research Beyond Low Earth Orbit. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1089/space.2016.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuri V. Griko
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
| | - Jon C. Rask
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
- KBRwyle, Moffett Field, California
| | - Raycho Raychev
- Space Challenges Program, EnduroSat, Inc., Sofia, Bulgaria
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15
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Tarahovsky YS, Fadeeva IS, Komelina NP, Khrenov MO, Zakharova NM. Antipsychotic inductors of brain hypothermia and torpor-like states: perspectives of application. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:173-184. [PMID: 27933367 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4496-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hypothermia and hypometabolism (hypometabothermia) normally observed during natural hibernation and torpor, allow animals to protect their body and brain against the damaging effects of adverse environment. A similar state of hypothermia can be achieved under artificial conditions through physical cooling or pharmacological effects directed at suppression of metabolism and the processes of thermoregulation. In these conditions called torpor-like states, the mammalian ability to recover from stroke, heart attack, and traumatic injuries greatly increases. Therefore, the development of therapeutic methods for different pathologies is a matter of great concern. With the discovery of the antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine in the 1950s of the last century, the first attempts to create a pharmacologically induced state of hibernation for therapeutic purposes were made. That was the beginning of numerous studies in animals and the broad use of therapeutic hypothermia in medicine. Over the last years, many new agents have been discovered which were capable of lowering the body temperature and inhibiting the metabolism. The psychotropic agents occupy a significant place among them, which, in our opinion, is not sufficiently recognized in the contemporary literature. In this review, we summarized the latest achievements related to the ability of modern antipsychotics to target specific receptors in the brain, responsible for the initiation of hypometabothermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yury S Tarahovsky
- Institute of Cell Biophysics RAS, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russian Federation, 142290. .,Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics RAS, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russian Federation, 142290.
| | - Irina S Fadeeva
- Institute of Cell Biophysics RAS, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russian Federation, 142290.,Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics RAS, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russian Federation, 142290
| | - Natalia P Komelina
- Institute of Cell Biophysics RAS, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russian Federation, 142290
| | - Maxim O Khrenov
- Institute of Cell Biophysics RAS, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russian Federation, 142290
| | - Nadezhda M Zakharova
- Institute of Cell Biophysics RAS, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russian Federation, 142290
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16
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Reilly BD, Franklin CE. Prevention of muscle wasting and osteoporosis: the value of examining novel animal models. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:2582-95. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.128348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Bone mass and skeletal muscle mass are controlled by factors such as genetics, diet and nutrition, growth factors and mechanical stimuli. Whereas increased mechanical loading of the musculoskeletal system stimulates an increase in the mass and strength of skeletal muscle and bone, reduced mechanical loading and disuse rapidly promote a decrease in musculoskeletal mass, strength and ultimately performance (i.e. muscle atrophy and osteoporosis). In stark contrast to artificially immobilised laboratory mammals, animals that experience natural, prolonged bouts of disuse and reduced mechanical loading, such as hibernating mammals and aestivating frogs, consistently exhibit limited or no change in musculoskeletal performance. What factors modulate skeletal muscle and bone mass, and what physiological and molecular mechanisms protect against losses of muscle and bone during dormancy and following arousal? Understanding the events that occur in different organisms that undergo natural periods of prolonged disuse and suffer negligible musculoskeletal deterioration could not only reveal novel regulatory factors but also might lead to new therapeutic options. Here, we review recent work from a diverse array of species that has revealed novel information regarding physiological and molecular mechanisms that dormant animals may use to conserve musculoskeletal mass despite prolonged inactivity. By highlighting some of the differences and similarities in musculoskeletal biology between vertebrates that experience disparate modes of dormancy, it is hoped that this Review will stimulate new insights and ideas for future studies regarding the regulation of atrophy and osteoporosis in both natural and clinical models of muscle and bone disuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beau D. Reilly
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Craig E. Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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17
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Abstract
Extended bouts of fasting are ingrained in the ecology of many organisms, characterizing aspects of reproduction, development, hibernation, estivation, migration, and infrequent feeding habits. The challenge of long fasting episodes is the need to maintain physiological homeostasis while relying solely on endogenous resources. To meet that challenge, animals utilize an integrated repertoire of behavioral, physiological, and biochemical responses that reduce metabolic rates, maintain tissue structure and function, and thus enhance survival. We have synthesized in this review the integrative physiological, morphological, and biochemical responses, and their stages, that characterize natural fasting bouts. Underlying the capacity to survive extended fasts are behaviors and mechanisms that reduce metabolic expenditure and shift the dependency to lipid utilization. Hormonal regulation and immune capacity are altered by fasting; hormones that trigger digestion, elevate metabolism, and support immune performance become depressed, whereas hormones that enhance the utilization of endogenous substrates are elevated. The negative energy budget that accompanies fasting leads to the loss of body mass as fat stores are depleted and tissues undergo atrophy (i.e., loss of mass). Absolute rates of body mass loss scale allometrically among vertebrates. Tissues and organs vary in the degree of atrophy and downregulation of function, depending on the degree to which they are used during the fast. Fasting affects the population dynamics and activities of the gut microbiota, an interplay that impacts the host's fasting biology. Fasting-induced gene expression programs underlie the broad spectrum of integrated physiological mechanisms responsible for an animal's ability to survive long episodes of natural fasting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Secor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Hannah V Carey
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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18
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Kueper J, Beyth S, Liebergall M, Kaplan L, Schroeder JE. Evidence for the adverse effect of starvation on bone quality: a review of the literature. Int J Endocrinol 2015; 2015:628740. [PMID: 25810719 PMCID: PMC4355339 DOI: 10.1155/2015/628740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Malnutrition and starvation's possible adverse impacts on bone health and bone quality first came into the spotlight after the horrors of the Holocaust and the ghettos of World War II. Famine and food restrictions led to a mean caloric intake of 200-800 calories a day in the ghettos and concentration camps, resulting in catabolysis and starvation of the inhabitants and prisoners. Severely increased risks of fracture, poor bone mineral density, and decreased cortical strength were noted in several case series and descriptive reports addressing the medical issues of these individuals. A severe effect of severely diminished food intake and frequently concomitant calcium- and Vitamin D deficiencies was subsequently proven in both animal models and the most common cause of starvation in developed countries is anorexia nervosa. This review attempts to summarize the literature available on the impact of the metabolic response to Starvation on overall bone health and bone quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Kueper
- Charité University of Medicine, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Shaul Beyth
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Kiryat Hadassah, P.O. Box 12000, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Meir Liebergall
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Kiryat Hadassah, P.O. Box 12000, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Leon Kaplan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Kiryat Hadassah, P.O. Box 12000, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Josh E. Schroeder
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Kiryat Hadassah, P.O. Box 12000, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel
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Thermoregulation and energetics in hibernating black bears: metabolic rate and the mystery of multi-day body temperature cycles. J Comp Physiol B 2015; 185:447-61. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-015-0891-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
Environmental temperature can have a surprising impact on extremity growth in homeotherms, but the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive for over a century. Limbs of animals raised at warm ambient temperature are significantly and permanently longer than those of littermates housed at cooler temperature. These remarkably consistent lab results closely resemble the ecogeographical tenet described by Allen's "extremity size rule," that appendage length correlates with temperature and latitude. This phenotypic growth plasticity could have adaptive significance for thermal physiology. Shortened extremities help retain body heat in cold environments by decreasing surface area for potential heat loss. Homeotherms have evolved complex mechanisms to maintain tightly regulated internal temperatures in challenging environments, including "facultative extremity heterothermy" in which limb temperatures can parallel ambient. Environmental modulation of tissue temperature can have direct and immediate consequences on cell proliferation, metabolism, matrix production, and mineralization in cartilage. Temperature can also indirectly influence cartilage growth by modulating circulating levels and delivery routes of essential hormones and paracrine regulators. Using an integrated approach, this article synthesizes classic studies with new data that shed light on the basis and significance of this enigmatic growth phenomenon and its relevance for treating human bone elongation disorders. Discussion centers on the vasculature as a gateway to understanding the complex interconnection between direct (local) and indirect (systemic) mechanisms of temperature-enhanced bone lengthening. Recent advances in imaging modalities that enable the dynamic study of cartilage growth plates in vivo will be key to elucidating fundamental physiological mechanisms of long bone growth regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Serrat
- Department of Anatomy and Pathology, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
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21
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Fedorov VB, Goropashnaya AV, Stewart NC, Tøien Ø, Chang C, Wang H, Yan J, Showe LC, Showe MK, Barnes BM. Comparative functional genomics of adaptation to muscular disuse in hibernating mammals. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:5524-37. [PMID: 25314618 PMCID: PMC4245363 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Revised: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Hibernation is an energy-saving adaptation that involves a profound suppression of physical activity that can continue for 6-8 months in highly seasonal environments. While immobility and disuse generate muscle loss in most mammalian species, in contrast, hibernating bears and ground squirrels demonstrate limited muscle atrophy over the prolonged periods of physical inactivity during winter, suggesting that hibernating mammals have adaptive mechanisms to prevent disuse muscle atrophy. To identify common transcriptional programmes that underlie molecular mechanisms preventing muscle loss, we conducted a large-scale gene expression screen in hind limb muscles comparing hibernating and summer-active black bears and arctic ground squirrels using custom 9600 probe cDNA microarrays. A molecular pathway analysis showed an elevated proportion of overexpressed genes involved in all stages of protein biosynthesis and ribosome biogenesis in muscle of both species during torpor of hibernation that suggests induction of translation at different hibernation states. The induction of protein biosynthesis probably contributes to attenuation of disuse muscle atrophy through the prolonged periods of immobility of hibernation. The lack of directional changes in genes of protein catabolic pathways does not support the importance of metabolic suppression for preserving muscle mass during winter. Coordinated reduction in multiple genes involved in oxidation-reduction and glucose metabolism detected in both species is consistent with metabolic suppression and lower energy demand in skeletal muscle during inactivity of hibernation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim B. Fedorov
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Anna V. Goropashnaya
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Nathan C. Stewart
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Øivind Tøien
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Celia Chang
- Systems and Computational Biology Center, the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Haifang Wang
- CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Jun Yan
- CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Louise C. Showe
- Systems and Computational Biology Center, the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael K. Showe
- Systems and Computational Biology Center, the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Brian M. Barnes
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
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Hibernating bears (Ursidae): metabolic magicians of definite interest for the nephrologist. Kidney Int 2012; 83:207-12. [PMID: 23254895 DOI: 10.1038/ki.2012.396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Muscle loss, osteoporosis, and vascular disease are common in subjects with reduced renal function. Despite intensive research of the underlying risk factors and mechanisms driving these phenotypes, we still lack effective treatment strategies for this underserved patient group. Thus, new approaches are needed to identify effective treatments. We believe that nephrologists could learn much from biomimicry; i.e., studies of nature's models to solve complicated physiological problems and then imitate these fascinating solutions to develop novel interventions. The hibernating bear (Ursidae) should be of specific interest to the nephrologist as they ingest no food or water for months, remaining anuric and immobile, only to awaken with low blood urea nitrogen levels, healthy lean body mass, strong bones, and without evidence for thrombotic complications. Identifying the mechanisms by which bears prevent the development of azotemia, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and atherosclerosis despite being inactive and anuric could lead to novel interventions for both prevention and treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease.
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