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Seidler RD, Mao XW, Tays GD, Wang T, Zu Eulenburg P. Effects of spaceflight on the brain. Lancet Neurol 2024; 23:826-835. [PMID: 38945144 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(24)00224-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The number of long duration human spaceflights has increased substantially over the past 15 years, leading to the discovery of numerous effects on the CNS. Microgravity results in headward fluid shifts, ventricular expansion, an upward shift of the brain within the skull, and remodelling of grey and white matter. The fluid changes are correlated with changes to perivascular space and spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome. Microgravity alters the vestibular processing of head tilt and results in reduced tactile and proprioceptive inputs during spaceflight. Sensory adaptation is reflected in postflight effects, evident as transient sensorimotor impairment. Another major concern is that galactic cosmic radiation, which spacefarers will be exposed to when going beyond the magnetosphere around Earth, might have a negative effect on CNS function. Research with rodents points to the potential disruptive effects of space radiation on blood-brain barrier integrity and brain structures. More work is needed to understand and mitigate these effects on the CNS before humans travel to Mars, as the flight durations will be longer than anyone has previously experienced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael D Seidler
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Xiao Wen Mao
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Grant D Tays
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tianyi Wang
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Peter Zu Eulenburg
- Institute for Neuroradiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
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2
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Li Z, Wu J, Zhao T, Wei Y, Xu Y, Liu Z, Li X, Chen X. Microglial activation in spaceflight and microgravity: potential risk of cognitive dysfunction and poor neural health. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1296205. [PMID: 38425432 PMCID: PMC10902453 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1296205] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to the increased crewed spaceflights in recent years, it is vital to understand how the space environment affects human health. A lack of gravitational force is known to risk multiple physiological functions of astronauts, particularly damage to the central nervous system (CNS). As innate immune cells of the CNS, microglia can transition from a quiescent state to a pathological state, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines that contribute to neuroinflammation. There are reports indicating that microglia can be activated by simulating microgravity or exposure to galactic cosmic rays (GCR). Consequently, microglia may play a role in the development of neuroinflammation during spaceflight. Prolonged spaceflight sessions raise concerns about the chronic activation of microglia, which could give rise to various neurological disorders, posing concealed risks to the neural health of astronauts. This review summarizes the risks associated with neural health owing to microglial activation and explores the stressors that trigger microglial activation in the space environment. These stressors include GCR, microgravity, and exposure to isolation and stress. Of particular focus is the activation of microglia under microgravity conditions, along with the proposal of a potential mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Li
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jiarui Wu
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyuan Zhao
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yiyun Wei
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yajing Xu
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zongjian Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqiong Li
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Xuechai Chen
- Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
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3
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Neikirk K, Stephens DC, Beasley HK, Marshall AG, Gaddy JA, Damo SM, Hinton A. Is space the final frontier for mitochondrial study? Biotechniques 2024; 76:46-51. [PMID: 38084381 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2023-0071] [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] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Tweetable abstract This perspective considers several avenues for future research on mitochondrial dynamics, stress, and DNA in outer space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kit Neikirk
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Dominique C Stephens
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Life & Physical Sciences, Fisk University, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Heather K Beasley
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Andrea G Marshall
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jennifer A Gaddy
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Steven M Damo
- Department of Life & Physical Sciences, Fisk University, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Antentor Hinton
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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Chou J, Ramroop JR, Saravia-Butler AM, Wey B, Lera MP, Torres ML, Heavner ME, Iyer J, Mhatre SD, Bhattacharya S, Govind S. Drosophila parasitoids go to space: Unexpected effects of spaceflight on hosts and their parasitoids. iScience 2024; 27:108759. [PMID: 38261932 PMCID: PMC10797188 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
While fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and humans exhibit immune system dysfunction in space, studies examining their immune systems' interactions with natural parasites in space are lacking. Drosophila parasitoid wasps modify blood cell function to suppress host immunity. In this study, naive and parasitized ground and space flies from a tumor-free control and a blood tumor-bearing mutant strain were examined. Inflammation-related genes were activated in space in both fly strains. Whereas control flies did not develop tumors, tumor burden increased in the space-returned tumor-bearing mutants. Surprisingly, control flies were more sensitive to spaceflight than mutant flies; many of their essential genes were downregulated. Parasitoids appeared more resilient than fly hosts, and spaceflight did not significantly impact wasp survival or the expression of their virulence genes. Previously undocumented mutant wasps with novel wing color and wing shape were isolated post-flight and will be invaluable for host-parasite studies on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Chou
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Johnny R. Ramroop
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Amanda M. Saravia-Butler
- KBR NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Brian Wey
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Matthew P. Lera
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Medaya L. Torres
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Bionetics, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Mary Ellen Heavner
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Janani Iyer
- KBR NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Universities Space Research Association, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
| | - Siddhita D. Mhatre
- KBR NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | | | - Shubha Govind
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
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Hwang H, Rampoldi A, Forghani P, Li D, Fite J, Boland G, Maher K, Xu C. Space microgravity increases expression of genes associated with proliferation and differentiation in human cardiac spheres. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:88. [PMID: 38071377 PMCID: PMC10710480 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00336-6] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Efficient generation of cardiomyocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is important for their application in basic and translational studies. Space microgravity can significantly change cell activities and function. Previously, we reported upregulation of genes associated with cardiac proliferation in cardiac progenitors derived from hiPSCs that were exposed to space microgravity for 3 days. Here we investigated the effect of long-term exposure of hiPSC-cardiac progenitors to space microgravity on global gene expression. Cryopreserved 3D hiPSC-cardiac progenitors were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) and cultured for 3 weeks under ISS microgravity and ISS 1 G conditions. RNA-sequencing analyses revealed upregulation of genes associated with cardiac differentiation, proliferation, and cardiac structure/function and downregulation of genes associated with extracellular matrix regulation in the ISS microgravity cultures compared with the ISS 1 G cultures. Gene ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes mapping identified the upregulation of biological processes, molecular function, cellular components, and pathways associated with cell cycle, cardiac differentiation, and cardiac function. Taking together, these results suggest that space microgravity has a beneficial effect on the differentiation and growth of cardiac progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Hwang
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Antonio Rampoldi
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Parvin Forghani
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dong Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Kevin Maher
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Chunhui Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Multi-system responses to altered gravity and spaceflight: Insights from Drosophila melanogaster. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 142:104880. [PMID: 36126744 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
NASA is planning to resume human-crewed lunar missions and lay the foundation for human exploration to Mars. However, our knowledge of the overall effects of long-duration spaceflight on human physiology is limited. During spaceflight, astronauts are exposed to multiple risk factors, including gravitational changes, ionizing radiation, physiological stress, and altered circadian lighting. These factors contribute to pathophysiological responses that target different organ systems in the body. This review discusses the advancements in gravitational biology using Drosophila melanogaster, one of the first organisms to be launched into space. As a well-established spaceflight model organism, fruit flies have yielded significant information, including neurobehavioral, aging, immune, cardiovascular, developmental, and multi-omics changes across tissues and developmental stages, as detailed in this review.
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