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Beckett LJ, Williams PM, Toh LS, Hessel V, Gerstweiler L, Fisk I, Toronjo-Urquiza L, Chauhan VM. Advancing insights into microgravity induced muscle changes using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:79. [PMID: 39060303 PMCID: PMC11282318 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00418-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight presents significant challenges to the physiological state of living organisms. This can be due to the microgravity environment experienced during long-term space missions, resulting in alterations in muscle structure and function, such as atrophy. However, a comprehensive understanding of the adaptive mechanisms of biological systems is required to devise potential solutions and therapeutic approaches for adapting to spaceflight conditions. This review examines the current understanding of the challenges posed by spaceflight on physiological changes, alterations in metabolism, dysregulation of pathways and the suitability and advantages of using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes to study the effects of spaceflight. Research has shown that changes in the gene and protein composition of nematodes significantly occur across various larval stages and rearing environments, including both microgravity and Earth gravity settings, often mirroring changes observed in astronauts. Additionally, the review explores significant insights into the fundamental metabolic changes associated with muscle atrophy and growth, which could lead to the development of diagnostic biomarkers and innovative techniques to prevent and counteract muscle atrophy. These insights not only advance our understanding of microgravity-induced muscle atrophy but also lay the groundwork for the development of targeted interventions to mitigate its effects in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Beckett
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- School of Chemical Engineering, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | | | - Li Shean Toh
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Volker Hessel
- School of Chemical Engineering, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Lukas Gerstweiler
- School of Chemical Engineering, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Ian Fisk
- International Flavour Research Centre, Division of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK
- International Flavour Research Centre (Adelaide), School of Agriculture, Food and Wine and Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Luis Toronjo-Urquiza
- School of Chemical Engineering, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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2
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Lee Satcher R, Fiedler B, Ghali A, Dirschl DR. Effect of Spaceflight and Microgravity on the Musculoskeletal System: A Review. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2024; 32:535-541. [PMID: 38652883 DOI: 10.5435/jaaos-d-23-00954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
With National Aeronautics and Space Administration's plans for longer distance, longer duration spaceflights such as missions to Mars and the surge in popularity of space tourism, the need to better understand the effects of spaceflight on the musculoskeletal system has never been more present. However, there is a paucity of information on how spaceflight affects orthopaedic health. This review surveys existing literature and discusses the effect of spaceflight on each aspect of the musculoskeletal system. Spaceflight reduces bone mineral density at rapid rates because of multiple mechanisms. While this seems to be recoverable upon re-exposure to gravity, concern for fracture in spaceflight remains as microgravity impairs bone strength and fracture healing. Muscles, tendons, and entheses similarly undergo microgravity adaptation. These changes result in decreased muscle mass, increased tendon laxity, and decreased enthesis stiffness, thus decreasing the strength of the muscle-tendon-enthesis unit with variable recovery upon gravity re-exposure. Spaceflight also affects joint health; unloading of the joints facilitates changes that thin and atrophy cartilage similar to arthritic phenotypes. These changes are likely recoverable upon return to gravity with exercise. Multiple questions remain regarding effects of longer duration flights on health and implications of these findings on terrestrial medicine, which should be the target of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Lee Satcher
- From the Department of Orthopedic Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX (Lee Satcher), and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (Fiedler, Ghali, and Dirschl)
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3
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Burles F, Willson M, Townes P, Yang A, Iaria G. Preliminary evidence of high prevalence of cerebral microbleeds in astronauts with spaceflight experience. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1360353. [PMID: 38948081 PMCID: PMC11211603 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1360353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-duration spaceflight poses a variety of health risks to astronauts, largely resulting from extended exposure to microgravity and radiation. Here, we assessed the prevalence and incidence of cerebral microbleeds in sixteen astronauts before and after a typical 6-month mission on board the International Space Station Cerebral microbleeds are microhemorrhages in the brain, which are typically interpreted as early evidence of small vessel disease and have been associated with cognitive impairment. We identified evidence of higher-than-expected microbleed prevalence in astronauts with prior spaceflight experience. However, we did not identify a statistically significant increase in microbleed burden up to 7 months after spaceflight. Altogether, these preliminary findings suggest that spaceflight exposure may increase microbleed burden, but this influence may be indirect or occur over time courses that exceed 1 year. For health monitoring purposes, it may be valuable to acquire neuroimaging data that are able to detect the occurrence of microbleeds in astronauts following their spaceflight missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ford Burles
- Canadian Space Health Research Network, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Neurolab, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Morgan Willson
- Departments of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Parker Townes
- Canadian Space Health Research Network, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Neurolab, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Allison Yang
- Canadian Space Health Research Network, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Neurolab, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Giuseppe Iaria
- Canadian Space Health Research Network, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Neurolab, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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4
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Mathyk BA, Tabetah M, Karim R, Zaksas V, Kim J, Anu RI, Muratani M, Tasoula A, Singh RS, Chen YK, Overbey E, Park J, Cope H, Fazelinia H, Povero D, Borg J, Klotz RV, Yu M, Young SL, Mason CE, Szewczyk N, St Clair RM, Karouia F, Beheshti A. Spaceflight induces changes in gene expression profiles linked to insulin and estrogen. Commun Biol 2024; 7:692. [PMID: 38862620 PMCID: PMC11166981 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05213-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Organismal adaptations to spaceflight have been characterized at the molecular level in model organisms, including Drosophila and C. elegans. Here, we extend molecular work to energy metabolism and sex hormone signaling in mice and humans. We found spaceflight induced changes in insulin and estrogen signaling in rodents and humans. Murine changes were most prominent in the liver, where we observed inhibition of insulin and estrogen receptor signaling with concomitant hepatic insulin resistance and steatosis. Based on the metabolic demand, metabolic pathways mediated by insulin and estrogen vary among muscles, specifically between the soleus and extensor digitorum longus. In humans, spaceflight induced changes in insulin and estrogen related genes and pathways. Pathway analysis demonstrated spaceflight induced changes in insulin resistance, estrogen signaling, stress response, and viral infection. These data strongly suggest the need for further research on the metabolic and reproductive endocrinologic effects of space travel, if we are to become a successful interplanetary species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begum Aydogan Mathyk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Marshall Tabetah
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Rashid Karim
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45220, USA
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Victoria Zaksas
- Center for Translational Data Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Clever Research Lab, Springfield, IL, 62704, USA
| | - JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and World Quant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - R I Anu
- Department of Cancer Biology & Therapeutics, Precision Oncology and Multi-omics clinic, Genetic counseling clinic. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Calicut, India
| | - Masafumi Muratani
- Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Department of Genome Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Alexia Tasoula
- Department of Life Science Engineering, FH Technikum, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Yen-Kai Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Eliah Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and World Quant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Jiwoon Park
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and World Quant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Henry Cope
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Derby, DE22 3DT, UK
| | - Hossein Fazelinia
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics and Proteomics Core Facility, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Davide Povero
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Joseph Borg
- Department of Applied Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Msida, MSD2090, Malta
| | - Remi V Klotz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Min Yu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Steven L Young
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Duke School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and World Quant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Nathaniel Szewczyk
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Derby, DE22 3DT, UK
- Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| | - Riley M St Clair
- Department of Life Sciences, Quest University, Squamish, BC, Canada
| | - Fathi Karouia
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
- Space Research Within Reach, San Francisco, CA, USA; Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Afshin Beheshti
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.
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5
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Overbey EG, Ryon K, Kim J, Tierney BT, Klotz R, Ortiz V, Mullane S, Schmidt JC, MacKay M, Damle N, Najjar D, Matei I, Patras L, Garcia Medina JS, Kleinman AS, Wain Hirschberg J, Proszynski J, Narayanan SA, Schmidt CM, Afshin EE, Innes L, Saldarriaga MM, Schmidt MA, Granstein RD, Shirah B, Yu M, Lyden D, Mateus J, Mason CE. Collection of biospecimens from the inspiration4 mission establishes the standards for the space omics and medical atlas (SOMA). Nat Commun 2024; 15:4964. [PMID: 38862509 PMCID: PMC11166662 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48806-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The SpaceX Inspiration4 mission provided a unique opportunity to study the impact of spaceflight on the human body. Biospecimen samples were collected from four crew members longitudinally before (Launch: L-92, L-44, L-3 days), during (Flight Day: FD1, FD2, FD3), and after (Return: R + 1, R + 45, R + 82, R + 194 days) spaceflight, spanning a total of 289 days across 2021-2022. The collection process included venous whole blood, capillary dried blood spot cards, saliva, urine, stool, body swabs, capsule swabs, SpaceX Dragon capsule HEPA filter, and skin biopsies. Venous whole blood was further processed to obtain aliquots of serum, plasma, extracellular vesicles and particles, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In total, 2,911 sample aliquots were shipped to our central lab at Weill Cornell Medicine for downstream assays and biobanking. This paper provides an overview of the extensive biospecimen collection and highlights their processing procedures and long-term biobanking techniques, facilitating future molecular tests and evaluations.As such, this study details a robust framework for obtaining and preserving high-quality human, microbial, and environmental samples for aerospace medicine in the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) initiative, which can aid future human spaceflight and space biology experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliah G Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- BioAstra, Inc, New York, NY, USA
- Center for STEM, University of Austin, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
| | - Krista Ryon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Braden T Tierney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Remi Klotz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Veronica Ortiz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sean Mullane
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Julian C Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Matthew MacKay
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Namita Damle
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deena Najjar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Irina Matei
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Laura Patras
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - J Sebastian Garcia Medina
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ashley S Kleinman
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy Wain Hirschberg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jacqueline Proszynski
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Anand Narayanan
- Florida State University, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Caleb M Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Evan E Afshin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lucinda Innes
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Michael A Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Bader Shirah
- Department of Neuroscience, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Min Yu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - David Lyden
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jaime Mateus
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- BioAstra, Inc, New York, NY, USA.
- The Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
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Ecker Cohen O, Neuman S, Natan Y, Levy A, Blum YD, Amselem S, Bavli D, Ben Y. Amorphous calcium carbonate enhances osteogenic differentiation and myotube formation of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and primary skeletal muscle cells under microgravity conditions. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2024; 41:146-157. [PMID: 38670641 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2024.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Astronauts are exposed to severely stressful physiological conditions due to microgravity and increased space radiation. Space environment affects every organ and cell in the body and the significant adverse effects of long-term weightlessness include muscle atrophy and deterioration of the skeleton (spaceflight osteopenia). Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC) emerges as a promising candidate for prevention of these effects, owing to its unique physicochemical properties and its potential to address the intricately linked nature of bone-muscle crosstalk. Reported here are two studies carried out on the International Space Station (ISS). The first, performed in 2018 as a part of the Ramon-Spacelab project, was a preliminary experiment, in which stromal murine cells were differentiated into osteoblasts when ACC was added to the culture medium. A parallel experiment was done on Earth as a control. The second study was part of Axiom-1's Rakia project mission launched to the ISS on 2022 utilizing organ-on-a-chip methodology with a specially designed autonomous module. In this experiment, human bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) and human primary muscle cells were cultured in the presence or absence of ACC, in duplicates. The results showed that ACC enhanced differentiation of human primary skeletal muscle cells into myotubes. Similarly, hBM-MSCs were differentiated significantly better into osteocytes in the presence of ACC leading to increased calcium deposits. The results, combined with previous data, support the use of ACC as an advantageous supplement for preventing muscle and bone deterioration in outer space conditions, facilitating extended extraterrestrial voyages and colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Neuman
- Amorphical LTD, 11 HaHarash St. Nes Ziona, 740318, Israel
| | - Yehudit Natan
- Amorphical LTD, 11 HaHarash St. Nes Ziona, 740318, Israel.
| | - Almog Levy
- SpacePharma R&D, 1 Abba Even Blvd, Herzliya, 4612003, Israel
| | - Yigal Dov Blum
- Amorphical LTD, 11 HaHarash St. Nes Ziona, 740318, Israel
| | - Shimon Amselem
- SpacePharma R&D, 1 Abba Even Blvd, Herzliya, 4612003, Israel
| | - Danny Bavli
- SpacePharma R&D, 1 Abba Even Blvd, Herzliya, 4612003, Israel
| | - Yossi Ben
- Amorphical LTD, 11 HaHarash St. Nes Ziona, 740318, Israel
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7
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Jogdand A, Landolina M, Chen Y. Organs in orbit: how tissue chip technology benefits from microgravity, a perspective. FRONTIERS IN LAB ON A CHIP TECHNOLOGIES 2024; 3:1356688. [PMID: 38915901 PMCID: PMC11195915 DOI: 10.3389/frlct.2024.1356688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Tissue chips have become one of the most potent research tools in the biomedical field. In contrast to conventional research methods, such as 2D cell culture and animal models, tissue chips more directly represent human physiological systems. This allows researchers to study therapeutic outcomes to a high degree of similarity to actual human subjects. Additionally, as rocket technology has advanced and become more accessible, researchers are using the unique properties offered by microgravity to meet specific challenges of modeling tissues on Earth; these include large organoids with sophisticated structures and models to better study aging and disease. This perspective explores the manufacturing and research applications of microgravity tissue chip technology, specifically investigating the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Jogdand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Maxwell Landolina
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Yupeng Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
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8
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Tomsia M, Cieśla J, Śmieszek J, Florek S, Macionga A, Michalczyk K, Stygar D. Long-term space missions' effects on the human organism: what we do know and what requires further research. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1284644. [PMID: 38415007 PMCID: PMC10896920 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1284644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Space has always fascinated people. Many years have passed since the first spaceflight, and in addition to the enormous technological progress, the level of understanding of human physiology in space is also increasing. The presented paper aims to summarize the recent research findings on the influence of the space environment (microgravity, pressure differences, cosmic radiation, etc.) on the human body systems during short-term and long-term space missions. The review also presents the biggest challenges and problems that must be solved in order to extend safely the time of human stay in space. In the era of increasing engineering capabilities, plans to colonize other planets, and the growing interest in commercial space flights, the most topical issues of modern medicine seems to be understanding the effects of long-term stay in space, and finding solutions to minimize the harmful effects of the space environment on the human body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Tomsia
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Julia Cieśla
- School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Joanna Śmieszek
- School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Szymon Florek
- School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Agata Macionga
- School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Michalczyk
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Dominika Stygar
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- SLU University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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9
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Dontre AJ. Weighing the impact of microgravity on vestibular and visual functions. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2024; 40:51-61. [PMID: 38245348 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Numerous technological challenges have been overcome to realize human space exploration. As mission durations gradually lengthen, the next obstacle is a set of physical limitations. Extended exposure to microgravity poses multiple threats to various bodily systems. Two of these systems are of particular concern for the success of future space missions. The vestibular system includes the otolith organs, which are stimulated in gravity but unloaded in microgravity. This impairs perception, posture, and coordination, all of which are relevant to mission success. Similarly, vision is impaired in many space travelers due to possible intracranial pressure changes or fluid shifts in the brain. As humankind prepares for extended missions to Mars and beyond, it is imperative to compensate for these perils in prolonged weightlessness. Possible countermeasures are considered such as exercise regimens, improved nutrition, and artificial gravity achieved with a centrifuge or spacecraft rotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Dontre
- School of Psychology, Fielding Graduate University, 2020 De La Vina Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, USA; Department of Communications, Behavioral, and Natural Sciences, Franklin University, 201 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215, USA.
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10
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Majumder N, Ghosh S. 3D biofabrication and space: A 'far-fetched dream' or a 'forthcoming reality'? Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108273. [PMID: 37863444 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
The long duration space missions across the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) often expose the voyagers to an abrupt zero gravity influence. The severe extraterrestrial cosmic radiation directly causes a plethora of moderate to chronic healthcare crises. The only feasible solution to manage critical injuries on board is surgical interventions or immediate return to Earth. This led the group of space medicine practitioners to adopt principles from tissue engineering and develop human tissue equivalents as an immediate regenerative therapy on board. The current review explicitly demonstrates the constructive application of different tissue-engineered equivalents matured under the available ground-based microgravity simulation facilities. Further, it elucidates how augmenting the superiority of biomaterial-based 3D bioprinting technology can enhance their clinical applicability. Additionally, the regulatory role of weightlessness condition on the underlying cellular signaling pathways governing tissue morphogenesis has been critically discussed. This information will provide future directions on how 3D biofabrication can be used as a plausible tool for healing on-flight chronic health emergencies. Thus, in our review, we aimed to precisely debate whether 3D biofabrication is deployed to cater to on-flight healthcare anomalies or space-like conditions are being utilized for generating 3D bioprinted human tissue constructs for efficient drug screening and regenerative therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilotpal Majumder
- Regenerative Engineering Laboratory, Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Sourabh Ghosh
- Regenerative Engineering Laboratory, Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India.
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11
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Zeineddine Y, Friedman MA, Buettmann EG, Abraham LB, Hoppock GA, Donahue HJ. Genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male mice. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:86. [PMID: 38040743 PMCID: PMC10692100 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00334-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Developments in long-term space exploration necessitate advancements in countermeasures against microgravity-induced skeletal muscle loss. Astronaut data shows considerable variation in muscle loss in response to microgravity. Previous experiments suggest that genetic background influences the skeletal muscle response to unloading, but no in-depth analysis of genetic expression has been performed. Here, we placed eight, male, inbred founder strains of the diversity outbred mice (129S1/SvImJ, A/J, C57BL/6J, CAST/EiJ, NOD/ShiLtJ, NZO/HILtJ, PWK/PhJ, and WSB/EiJ) in simulated microgravity (SM) via hindlimb unloading for three weeks. Body weight, muscle morphology, muscle strength, protein synthesis marker expression, and RNA expression were collected. A/J and CAST/EiJ mice were most susceptible to SM-induced muscle loss, whereas NOD/ShiLtJ mice were the most protected. In response to SM, A/J and CAST/EiJ mice experienced reductions in body weight, muscle mass, muscle volume, and muscle cross-sectional area. A/J mice had the highest number of differentially expressed genes (68) and associated gene ontologies (328). Downregulation of immunological gene ontologies and genes encoding anabolic immune factors suggest that immune dysregulation contributes to the response of A/J mice to SM. Several muscle properties showed significant interactions between SM and mouse strain and a high degree of heritability. These data imply that genetic background plays a role in the degree of muscle loss in SM and that more individualized programs should be developed for astronauts to protect their skeletal muscles against microgravity on long-term missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmina Zeineddine
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Michael A Friedman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Evan G Buettmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Lovell B Abraham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Gabriel A Hoppock
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Henry J Donahue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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12
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Soni P, Edwards H, Anupom T, Rahman M, Lesanpezeshki L, Blawzdziewicz J, Cope H, Gharahdaghi N, Scott D, Toh LS, Williams PM, Etheridge T, Szewczyk N, Willis CRG, Vanapalli SA. Spaceflight Induces Strength Decline in Caenorhabditis elegans. Cells 2023; 12:2470. [PMID: 37887314 PMCID: PMC10605753 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Understanding and countering the well-established negative health consequences of spaceflight remains a primary challenge preventing safe deep space exploration. Targeted/personalized therapeutics are at the forefront of space medicine strategies, and cross-species molecular signatures now define the 'typical' spaceflight response. However, a lack of direct genotype-phenotype associations currently limits the robustness and, therefore, the therapeutic utility of putative mechanisms underpinning pathological changes in flight. Methods: We employed the worm Caenorhabditis elegans as a validated model of space biology, combined with 'NemaFlex-S' microfluidic devices for assessing animal strength production as one of the most reproducible physiological responses to spaceflight. Wild-type and dys-1 (BZ33) strains (a Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) model for comparing predisposed muscle weak animals) were cultured on the International Space Station in chemically defined media before loading second-generation gravid adults into NemaFlex-S devices to assess individual animal strength. These same cultures were then frozen on orbit before returning to Earth for next-generation sequencing transcriptomic analysis. Results: Neuromuscular strength was lower in flight versus ground controls (16.6% decline, p < 0.05), with dys-1 significantly more (23% less strength, p < 0.01) affected than wild types. The transcriptional gene ontology signatures characterizing both strains of weaker animals in flight strongly corroborate previous results across species, enriched for upregulated stress response pathways and downregulated mitochondrial and cytoskeletal processes. Functional gene cluster analysis extended this to implicate decreased neuronal function, including abnormal calcium handling and acetylcholine signaling, in space-induced strength declines under the predicted control of UNC-89 and DAF-19 transcription factors. Finally, gene modules specifically altered in dys-1 animals in flight again cluster to neuronal/neuromuscular pathways, suggesting strength loss in DMD comprises a strong neuronal component that predisposes these animals to exacerbated strength loss in space. Conclusions: Highly reproducible gene signatures are strongly associated with space-induced neuromuscular strength loss across species and neuronal changes in calcium/acetylcholine signaling require further study. These results promote targeted medical efforts towards and provide an in vivo model for safely sending animals and people into deep space in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purushottam Soni
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (P.S.); (M.R.); (L.L.)
| | - Hunter Edwards
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA;
| | - Taslim Anupom
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA;
| | - Mizanur Rahman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (P.S.); (M.R.); (L.L.)
| | - Leila Lesanpezeshki
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (P.S.); (M.R.); (L.L.)
| | - Jerzy Blawzdziewicz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA;
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Henry Cope
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Derby DE22 3DT, UK; (H.C.); (N.G.)
| | - Nima Gharahdaghi
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Derby DE22 3DT, UK; (H.C.); (N.G.)
| | - Daniel Scott
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK;
| | - Li Shean Toh
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (L.S.T.); (P.M.W.)
| | - Philip M. Williams
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (L.S.T.); (P.M.W.)
| | - Timothy Etheridge
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK;
| | - Nathaniel Szewczyk
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Derby DE22 3DT, UK; (H.C.); (N.G.)
- Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Craig R. G. Willis
- School of Chemistry and Biosciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK;
| | - Siva A. Vanapalli
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (P.S.); (M.R.); (L.L.)
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13
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Parafati M, Giza S, Shenoy TS, Mojica-Santiago JA, Hopf M, Malany LK, Platt D, Moore I, Jacobs ZA, Kuehl P, Rexroat J, Barnett G, Schmidt CE, McLamb WT, Clements T, Coen PM, Malany S. Human skeletal muscle tissue chip autonomous payload reveals changes in fiber type and metabolic gene expression due to spaceflight. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:77. [PMID: 37714852 PMCID: PMC10504373 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00322-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Microphysiological systems provide the opportunity to model accelerated changes at the human tissue level in the extreme space environment. Spaceflight-induced muscle atrophy experienced by astronauts shares similar physiological changes to muscle wasting in older adults, known as sarcopenia. These shared attributes provide a rationale for investigating molecular changes in muscle cells exposed to spaceflight that may mimic the underlying pathophysiology of sarcopenia. We report the results from three-dimensional myobundles derived from muscle biopsies from young and older adults, integrated into an autonomous CubeLab™, and flown to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX CRS-21 as part of the NIH/NASA funded Tissue Chips in Space program. Global transcriptomic RNA-Seq analyses comparing the myobundles in space and on the ground revealed downregulation of shared transcripts related to myoblast proliferation and muscle differentiation. The analyses also revealed downregulated differentially expressed gene pathways related to muscle metabolism unique to myobundles derived from the older cohort exposed to the space environment compared to ground controls. Gene classes related to inflammatory pathways were downregulated in flight samples cultured from the younger cohort compared to ground controls. Our muscle tissue chip platform provides an approach to studying the cell autonomous effects of spaceflight on muscle cell biology that may not be appreciated on the whole organ or organism level and sets the stage for continued data collection from muscle tissue chip experimentation in microgravity. We also report on the challenges and opportunities for conducting autonomous tissue-on-chip CubeLabTM payloads on the ISS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Parafati
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Shelby Giza
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Tushar S Shenoy
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Jorge A Mojica-Santiago
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Meghan Hopf
- Translational Research Institute, AdventHealth, Orlando, FL, 32804, USA
| | | | - Don Platt
- Micro Aerospace Solutions, INC, Melbourne, FL, 32935, USA
| | | | | | - Paul Kuehl
- Space Tango, LLC, Lexington, KY, 40505, USA
| | | | | | - Christine E Schmidt
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | | | | | - Paul M Coen
- Translational Research Institute, AdventHealth, Orlando, FL, 32804, USA
| | - Siobhan Malany
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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14
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Patel OV, Partridge C, Plaut K. Space Environment Impacts Homeostasis: Exposure to Spaceflight Alters Mammary Gland Transportome Genes. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050872. [PMID: 37238741 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane transporters and ion channels that play an indispensable role in metabolite trafficking have evolved to operate in Earth's gravity. Dysregulation of the transportome expression profile at normogravity not only affects homeostasis along with drug uptake and distribution but also plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diverse localized to systemic diseases including cancer. The profound physiological and biochemical perturbations experienced by astronauts during space expeditions are well-documented. However, there is a paucity of information on the effect of the space environment on the transportome profile at an organ level. Thus, the goal of this study was to analyze the effect of spaceflight on ion channels and membrane substrate transporter genes in the periparturient rat mammary gland. Comparative gene expression analysis revealed an upregulation (p < 0.01) of amino acid, Ca2+, K+, Na+, Zn2+, Cl-, PO43-, glucose, citrate, pyruvate, succinate, cholesterol, and water transporter genes in rats exposed to spaceflight. Genes associated with the trafficking of proton-coupled amino acids, Mg2+, Fe2+, voltage-gated K+-Na+, cation-coupled chloride, as well as Na+/Ca2+ and ATP-Mg/Pi exchangers were suppressed (p < 0.01) in these spaceflight-exposed rats. These findings suggest that an altered transportome profile contributes to the metabolic modulations observed in the rats exposed to the space environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osman V Patel
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401, USA
| | - Charlyn Partridge
- Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, Muskegon, MI 49441, USA
| | - Karen Plaut
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
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15
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Overbey EG, Ryon K, Kim J, Tierney B, Klotz R, Ortiz V, Mullane S, Schmidt JC, MacKay M, Damle N, Najjar D, Matei I, Patras L, Medina JSG, Kleinman A, Hirschberg JW, Proszynski J, Narayanan SA, Schmidt CM, Afshin EE, Innes L, Saldarriaga MM, Schmidt MA, Granstein RD, Shirah B, Yu M, Lyden D, Mateus J, Mason CE. Collection of Biospecimens from the Inspiration4 Mission Establishes the Standards for the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.02.539108. [PMID: 37205403 PMCID: PMC10187258 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.02.539108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The SpaceX Inspiration4 mission provided a unique opportunity to study the impact of spaceflight on the human body. Biospecimen samples were collected from the crew at different stages of the mission, including before (L-92, L-44, L-3 days), during (FD1, FD2, FD3), and after (R+1, R+45, R+82, R+194 days) spaceflight, creating a longitudinal sample set. The collection process included samples such as venous blood, capillary dried blood spot cards, saliva, urine, stool, body swabs, capsule swabs, SpaceX Dragon capsule HEPA filter, and skin biopsies, which were processed to obtain aliquots of serum, plasma, extracellular vesicles, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. All samples were then processed in clinical and research laboratories for optimal isolation and testing of DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites, and other biomolecules. This paper describes the complete set of collected biospecimens, their processing steps, and long-term biobanking methods, which enable future molecular assays and testing. As such, this study details a robust framework for obtaining and preserving high-quality human, microbial, and environmental samples for aerospace medicine in the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) initiative, which can also aid future experiments in human spaceflight and space biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliah G. Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- BioAstra, Inc, New York, NY, USA
| | - Krista Ryon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Braden Tierney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Remi Klotz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Veronica Ortiz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sean Mullane
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Julian C. Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Matthew MacKay
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Namita Damle
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deena Najjar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Irina Matei
- Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Laura Patras
- Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Ashley Kleinman
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy Wain Hirschberg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jacqueline Proszynski
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Caleb M. Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Evan E. Afshin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lucinda Innes
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Michael A. Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Bader Shirah
- Department of Neuroscience, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Min Yu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David Lyden
- Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jaime Mateus
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Christopher E. Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- BioAstra, Inc, New York, NY, USA
- The Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, NY 10021, USA
- WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
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16
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Parafati M, Giza S, Shenoy T, Mojica-Santiago J, Hopf M, Malany L, Platt D, Kuehl P, Moore I, Jacobs Z, Barnett G, Schmidt C, McLamb W, Coen P, Clements T, Malany S. Validation of Human Skeletal Muscle Tissue Chip Autonomous Platform to Model Age-Related Muscle Wasting in Microgravity. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2631490. [PMID: 37034730 PMCID: PMC10081368 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2631490/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Microgravity-induced muscle atrophy experienced by astronauts shares similar physiological changes to muscle wasting experienced by older adults, known as sarcopenia. These shared attributes provide a rationale for investigating microgravity-induced molecular changes in human bioengineered muscle cells that may also mimic the progressive underlying pathophysiology of sarcopenia. Here, we report the results of an experiment that incorporated three-dimensional myobundles derived from muscle biopsies from young and older adults, that were integrated into an autonomous CubeLabâ"¢, and flown to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX CRS-21 in December 2020 as part of the NIH/NASA funded Tissue Chips in Space program. Global transcriptomic RNA-Seq analysis comparing the myobundles in space and on the ground revealed downregulation of shared transcripts related to myoblast proliferation and muscle differentiation for those in space. The analysis also revealed differentially expressed gene pathways related to muscle metabolism unique to myobundles derived from the older cohort exposed to the space environment compared to ground controls. Gene classes related to inflammatory pathways were uniquely modulated in flight samples cultured from the younger cohort compared to ground controls. Our muscle tissue chip platform provides a novel approach to studying the cell autonomous effects of microgravity on muscle cell biology that may not be appreciated on the whole organ or organism level and sets the stage for continued data collection from muscle tissue chip experimentation in microgravity. Thus, we also report on the challenges and opportunities for conducting autonomous tissue-on-chip CubeLab TM payloads on the ISS.
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17
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Hélissen O, Kermorgant M, Déjean S, Mercadie A, Le Gonidec S, Zahreddine R, Calise D, Nasr N, Galès C, Arvanitis DN, Pavy-Le Traon A. Autonomic Nervous System Adaptation and Circadian Rhythm Disturbances of the Cardiovascular System in a Ground-Based Murine Model of Spaceflight. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030844. [PMID: 36983999 PMCID: PMC10057816 DOI: 10.3390/life13030844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether in real or simulated microgravity, Humans or animals, the kinetics of cardiovascular adaptation and its regulation by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) remain controversial. In this study, we used hindlimb unloading (HU) in 10 conscious mice. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), temperature, and locomotor activity were continuously monitored with radio-telemetry, during 3 days of control, 5 days of HU, and 2 days of recovery. Six additional mice were used to assess core temperature. ANS activity was indirectly determined by analyzing both heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Our study showed that HU induced an initial bradycardia, accompanied by an increase in vagal activity markers of HRV and BRS, together with a decrease in water intake, indicating the early adaptation to fluid redistribution. During HU, BRS was reduced; temperature and BP circadian rhythms were altered, showing a loss in day/night differences, a decrease in cycle amplitude, a drop in core body temperature, and an increase in day BP suggestive of a rise in sympathetic activity. Reloading induced resting tachycardia and a decrease in BP, vagal activity, and BRS. In addition to cardiovascular deconditioning, HU induces disruption in day/night rhythmicity of locomotor activity, temperature, and BP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ophélie Hélissen
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, UMR1297, INSERM, University Hospital of Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Marc Kermorgant
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, UMR1297, INSERM, University Hospital of Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France
- Neurology Department, University Hospital of Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Sébastien Déjean
- Institut de Mathématiques de Toulouse, UMR5219, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, UT3, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Aurélie Mercadie
- Institut de Mathématiques de Toulouse, UMR5219, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, UT3, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Sophie Le Gonidec
- CREFRE-Anexplo, Services Phénotypage et Microchirurgie, UMS006, INSERM, Université de Toulouse, UT3, ENVT, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Rana Zahreddine
- CREFRE-Anexplo, Services Phénotypage et Microchirurgie, UMS006, INSERM, Université de Toulouse, UT3, ENVT, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Denis Calise
- CREFRE-Anexplo, Services Phénotypage et Microchirurgie, UMS006, INSERM, Université de Toulouse, UT3, ENVT, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Nathalie Nasr
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, UMR1297, INSERM, University Hospital of Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Céline Galès
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, UMR1297, INSERM, University Hospital of Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Dina N Arvanitis
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, UMR1297, INSERM, University Hospital of Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Anne Pavy-Le Traon
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, UMR1297, INSERM, University Hospital of Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France
- Neurology Department, University Hospital of Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France
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18
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Lechner R, Brugger H, Paal P, Hüfner K, Agazzi G, Butler F, Gordon L, Darocha T, Zafren K. Survival in a Collapsed Stable for 37 Days After Avalanche Burial in 1755. Wilderness Environ Med 2023; 34:113-119. [PMID: 36526516 DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In 1755 in Bergemoletto, Italy, an avalanche buried 4 people (2 women, a girl, and a boy) and several animals in a stable. After 37 d in a pitch-dark confined space, 3 of the 4 people were rescued alive. The 3 survivors had only goat milk, a few chestnuts, a few kg of raw kid meat, and meltwater for nutrition. We describe the longest-known survival in an avalanche burial and discuss the medical and psychological problems of the survivors. The boy died. When they were extricated, all 3 survivors were exhausted, cachectic, and unable to stand or walk. They were severely malnourished and were experiencing tingling, tremors, and weakness in the legs; constipation; changes in taste; and amenorrhea. One of the women had persistent eye problems and developed symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder. The survivors were given slow refeeding. It took from 1 to 6 wk before they could walk. We compare this case to other long-duration burials, especially mining accidents, and describe the rescue and patient care after long-duration burials. This case demonstrates that people can overcome extremely adverse conditions and survive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raimund Lechner
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Pain Therapy, Military Hospital, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Hermann Brugger
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, the Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom), Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Paal
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, St. John of God Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Katharina Hüfner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, University Clinic for Psychiatry II (Psychosomatic Medicine), Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Giancelso Agazzi
- International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom), Zürich, Switzerland; Italian Society of Mountain Medicine, Padua, Italy; Italian Alpine Club Medical Commission, Milan, Italy
| | - Frank Butler
- US Department of Defense Joint Trauma System, San Antonio, TX; Departments of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
| | - Les Gordon
- Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Tomasz Darocha
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Ken Zafren
- International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom), Zürich, Switzerland; Department of Emergency Medicine, Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage, AK; Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA
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19
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Combined space stressors induce independent behavioral deficits predicted by early peripheral blood monocytes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1749. [PMID: 36720960 PMCID: PMC9889764 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28508-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Interplanetary space travel poses many hazards to the human body. To protect astronaut health and performance on critical missions, there is first a need to understand the effects of deep space hazards, including ionizing radiation, confinement, and altered gravity. Previous studies of rodents exposed to a single such stressor document significant deficits, but our study is the first to investigate possible cumulative and synergistic impacts of simultaneous ionizing radiation, confinement, and altered gravity on behavior and cognition. Our cohort was divided between 6-month-old female and male mice in group, social isolation, or hindlimb unloading housing, exposed to 0 or 50 cGy of 5 ion simplified simulated galactic cosmic radiation (GCRsim). We report interactions and independent effects of GCRsim exposure and housing conditions on behavioral and cognitive performance. Exposure to GCRsim drove changes in immune cell populations in peripheral blood collected early after irradiation, while housing conditions drove changes in blood collected at a later point. Female mice were largely resilient to deficits observed in male mice. Finally, we used principal component analysis to represent total deficits as principal component scores, which were predicted by general linear models using GCR exposure, housing condition, and early blood biomarkers.
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20
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Are Skeletal Muscle Changes during Prolonged Space Flights Similar to Those Experienced by Frail and Sarcopenic Older Adults? LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12122139. [PMID: 36556504 PMCID: PMC9781047 DOI: 10.3390/life12122139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Microgravity exposure causes several physiological and psychosocial alterations that challenge astronauts' health during space flight. Notably, many of these changes are mostly related to physical inactivity influencing different functional systems and organ biology, in particular the musculoskeletal system, dramatically resulting in aging-like phenotypes, such as those occurring in older persons on Earth. In this sense, sarcopenia, a syndrome characterized by the loss in muscle mass and strength due to skeletal muscle unloading, is undoubtedly one of the most critical aging-like adverse effects of microgravity and a prevalent problem in the geriatric population, still awaiting effective countermeasures. Therefore, there is an urgent demand to identify clinically relevant biological markers and to underline molecular mechanisms behind these effects that are still poorly understood. From this perspective, a lesson from Geroscience may help tailor interventions to counteract the adverse effects of microgravity. For instance, decades of studies in the field have demonstrated that in the older people, the clinical picture of sarcopenia remarkably overlaps (from a clinical and biological point of view) with that of frailty, primarily when referred to the physical function domain. Based on this premise, here we provide a deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms of sarcopenia and frailty, which in aging are often considered together, and how these converge with those observed in astronauts after space flight.
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21
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Chaloulakou S, Poulia KA, Karayiannis D. Physiological Alterations in Relation to Space Flight: The Role of Nutrition. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14224896. [PMID: 36432580 PMCID: PMC9699067 DOI: 10.3390/nu14224896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Astronauts exhibit several pathophysiological changes due to a variety of stressors related to the space environment, including microgravity, space radiation, isolation, and confinement. Space motion sickness, bone and muscle mass loss, cardiovascular deconditioning and neuro-ocular syndrome are some of the spaceflight-induced effects on human health. Optimal nutrition is of the utmost importance, and-in combination with other measures, such as physical activity and pharmacological treatment-has a key role in mitigating many of the above conditions, including bone and muscle mass loss. Since the beginning of human space exploration, space food has not fully covered astronauts' needs. They often suffer from menu fatigue and present unintentional weight loss, which leads to further alterations. The purpose of this review was to explore the role of nutrition in relation to the pathophysiological effects of spaceflight on the human body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula Chaloulakou
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, “Evangelismos” General Hospital of Athens, 10676 Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Anna Poulia
- Laboratory of Dietetics and Quality of Life, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Karayiannis
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, “Evangelismos” General Hospital of Athens, 10676 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-213-2045035
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22
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Mu X, He W, Rivera VAM, De Alba RAD, Newman DJ, Zhang YS. Small tissue chips with big opportunities for space medicine. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2022; 35:150-157. [PMID: 36336360 PMCID: PMC11016463 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The spaceflight environment, including microgravity and radiation, may have considerable effects on the health and performance of astronauts, especially for long-duration and Martian missions. Conventional on-ground and in-space experimental approaches have been employed to investigate the comprehensive biological effects of the spaceflight environment. As a class of recently emerging bioengineered in vitro models, tissue chips are characterized by a small footprint, potential automation, and the recapitulation of tissue-level physiology, thus promising to help provide molecular and cellular insights into space medicine. Here, we briefly review the technical advantages of tissue chips and discuss specific on-chip physiological recapitulations. Several tissue chips have been launched into space, and more are poised to come through multi-agency collaborations, implying an increasingly important role of tissue chips in space medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Mu
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, IA 52242, USA
| | - Weishen He
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Victoria Abril Manjarrez Rivera
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Raul Armando Duran De Alba
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Dava J Newman
- MIT Media Lab, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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23
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Effect of Exercise on Energy Expenditure and Body Composition in Astronauts Onboard the International Space Station: Considerations for Interplanetary Travel. Sports Med 2022; 52:3039-3053. [PMID: 35829995 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-022-01728-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Body mass (BM) loss and body composition (BC) changes threaten astronauts' health and mission success. However, the energetic contribution of the exercise countermeasure to these changes has never been investigated during long-term missions. We studied energy balance and BC in astronauts during 6-month missions onboard the International Space Station. METHODS Before and after at least 3 months in space, BM, BC, total and activity energy expenditure (TEE and AEE) were measured using the doubly labeled water method in 11 astronauts (2011-2017). Physical activity (PA) was assessed by the SensewearPro® activity-device. RESULTS Three-month spaceflight decreased BM (- 1.20 kg [SE 0.5]; P = 0.04), mainly due to non-significant fat-free mass loss (FFM; - 0.94 kg [0.59]). The decrease in walking time (- 63.2 min/day [11.5]; P < 0.001) from preflight was compensated by increases in non-ambulatory activities (+ 64.8 min/day [18.8]; P < 0.01). Average TEE was unaffected but a large interindividual variability was noted. Astronauts were stratified into those who maintained (stable_TEE; n = 6) and those who decreased (decreased_TEE; n = 5) TEE and AEE compared to preflight data. Although both groups lost similar BM, FFM was maintained and FM reduced in stable_TEE astronauts, while FFM decreased and FM increased in decreased_TEE astronauts (estimated between-group-difference (EGD) in ΔFFMindex [FFMI] 0.87 kg/m2, 95% CI + 0.32 to + 1.41; P = 0.01, ΔFMindex [FMI] - 1.09 kg/m2, 95% CI - 2.06 to - 0.11 kg/m2; P = 0.03). The stable_TEE group had higher baseline FFMI, and greater baseline and inflight vigorous PA than the decreased_TEE group (P < 0.05 for all). ΔFMI and ΔFFMI were respectively negatively and positively associated with both ΔTEE and ΔAEE. CONCLUSION Both ground fitness and inflight overall PA are associated with spaceflight-induced TEE and BC changes and thus energy requirements. New instruments are needed to measure real-time individual changes in inflight energy balance components.
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Joint Cartilage in Long-Duration Spaceflight. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061356. [PMID: 35740378 PMCID: PMC9220015 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the current literature available on joint cartilage alterations in long-duration spaceflight. Evidence from spaceflight participants is currently limited to serum biomarker data in only a few astronauts. Findings from analogue model research, such as bed rest studies, as well as data from animal and cell research in real microgravity indicate that unloading and radiation exposure are associated with joint degeneration in terms of cartilage thinning and changes in cartilage composition. It is currently unknown how much the individual cartilage regions in the different joints of the human body will be affected on long-term missions beyond the Low Earth Orbit. Given the fact that, apart from total joint replacement or joint resurfacing, currently no treatment exists for late-stage osteoarthritis, countermeasures might be needed to avoid cartilage damage during long-duration missions. To plan countermeasures, it is important to know if and how joint cartilage and the adjacent structures, such as the subchondral bone, are affected by long-term unloading, reloading, and radiation. The use of countermeasures that put either load and shear, or other stimuli on the joints, shields them from radiation or helps by supporting cartilage physiology, or by removing oxidative stress possibly help to avoid OA in later life following long-duration space missions. There is a high demand for research on the efficacy of such countermeasures to judge their suitability for their implementation in long-duration missions.
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25
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Responses of neuromuscular properties to unloading and potential countermeasures during space exploration missions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 136:104617. [PMID: 35283170 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We reviewed the responses of the neuromuscular properties of mainly the soleus and possible mechanisms. Sensory nervous activity in response to passive shortening and/or active contraction, associated with plantar-flexion or dorsi-flexion of the ankle joints, may play an essential role in the regulation of muscle properties. Passive shortening of the muscle fibers and sarcomeres inhibits the development of tension, electromyogram (EMG), and afferent neurogram. Remodeling of the sarcomeres, which decreases the total sarcomere number in a single muscle fiber causing recovery of the length in each sarcomere, is induced in the soleus following chronic unloading. Although EMG activity and tension development in each sarcomere are increased, the total tension produced by the whole muscle is still less owing to the lower sarcomere number. Therefore, muscle atrophy continues to progress. Moreover, walking or slow running by rear-foot strike landing with the application of greater ground reaction force, which stimulates soleus mobilization, could be an effective countermeasure. Periodic, but not chronic, passive stretching of the soleus may also be effective.
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Detection of Target Genes for Drug Repurposing to Treat Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Mice Flown in Spaceflight. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13030473. [PMID: 35328027 PMCID: PMC8953707 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle atrophy is a common condition in aging, diabetes, and in long duration spaceflights due to microgravity. This article investigates multi-modal gene disease and disease drug networks via link prediction algorithms to select drugs for repurposing to treat skeletal muscle atrophy. Key target genes that cause muscle atrophy in the left and right extensor digitorum longus muscle tissue, gastrocnemius, quadriceps, and the left and right soleus muscles are detected using graph theoretic network analysis, by mining the transcriptomic datasets collected from mice flown in spaceflight made available by GeneLab. We identified the top muscle atrophy gene regulators by the Pearson correlation and Bayesian Markov blanket method. The gene disease knowledge graph was constructed using the scalable precision medicine knowledge engine. We computed node embeddings, random walk measures from the networks. Graph convolutional networks, graph neural networks, random forest, and gradient boosting methods were trained using the embeddings, network features for predicting links and ranking top gene-disease associations for skeletal muscle atrophy. Drugs were selected and a disease drug knowledge graph was constructed. Link prediction methods were applied to the disease drug networks to identify top ranked drugs for therapeutic treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy. The graph convolution network performs best in link prediction based on receiver operating characteristic curves and prediction accuracies. The key genes involved in skeletal muscle atrophy are associated with metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. The drugs selected for repurposing using the graph convolution network method were nutrients, corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory medications, and others related to insulin.
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27
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Pandian V, Coker DK, Shelhamer M. Nursing Care in Space-The need for nurses in the new and evolving field of healthcare in space. J Clin Nurs 2021; 31. [PMID: 34672034 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vinciya Pandian
- Department of Nursing Faculty, and Outcomes After Critical Illness and Surgery (OACIS) Research Group, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Mark Shelhamer
- Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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