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van Loon JJWA, Berezovska OP, Bervoets TJM, Montufar-Solis D, Semeins CM, Zandieh-Doulabi B, Rodionova PNV, Duke J, Veldhuijzen JP. Growth and mineralization of fetal mouse long bones under microgravity and daily 1 g gravity exposure. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:80. [PMID: 39060264 PMCID: PMC11282293 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00421-4] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In a previous Space Shuttle/Spacelab experiment (STS-42), we observed direct responses of isolated fetal mouse long bones to near weightlessness. This paper aimed to verify those results and study the effects of daily 1×g exposure during microgravity on the growth and mineralization of these bones. Two experiments were conducted: one on an American Space Shuttle mission (IML-2 on STS-65) and another on a Russian Bio-Cosmos flight (Bion-10 on Cosmos-2229). Despite differences in hardware, both used 17-day-old fetal mouse metatarsals cultured for 4 days. Results showed reduced proteoglycan content under microgravity compared to 1×g conditions, with no main differences in other cellular structures. While the overall metatarsal length was unaffected, the length increase of the mineralized diaphysis was significantly reduced under microgravity. Daily 1×g exposure for at least 6 h abolished the microgravity-induced reduction in cartilage mineralization, indicating the need for long-duration exposure to 1×g as an in-flight countermeasure using artificial gravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack J W A van Loon
- Department of Oral Biology, Section Oral Cell Biology, ACTA-Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Olga P Berezovska
- Department of Radiobiology and Radioecology, Institute for Nuclear Research of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Theodorus J M Bervoets
- Department of Oral Biology, Section Oral Cell Biology, ACTA-Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dina Montufar-Solis
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cor M Semeins
- Department of Oral Biology, Section Oral Cell Biology, ACTA-Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Behrouz Zandieh-Doulabi
- Department of Oral Biology, Section Oral Cell Biology, ACTA-Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P Natalia V Rodionova
- Schmalhausen Institute for Zoology, National Academy of Sciences Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Jackie Duke
- Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J Paul Veldhuijzen
- Department of Oral Biology, Section Oral Cell Biology, ACTA-Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Żyłka M, Górski G, Żyłka W, Gala-Błądzińska A. Numerical analysis of blood flow in the abdominal aorta under simulated weightlessness and earth conditions. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15978. [PMID: 38987416 PMCID: PMC11237043 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66961-7] [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: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood flow through the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries is a crucial area of research in hemodynamics and cardiovascular diseases. To get in to the problem, this study presents detailed analyses of blood flow through the abdominal aorta, together with left and right iliac arteries, under Earth gravity and weightless conditions, both at the rest stage, and during physical activity. The analysis were conducted using ANSYS Fluent software. The results indicate, that there is significantly less variation in blood flow velocity under weightless conditions, compared to measurement taken under Earth Gravity conditions. Study presents, that the maximum and minimum blood flow velocities decrease and increase, respectively, under weightless conditions. Our model for the left iliac artery revealed higher blood flow velocities during the peak of the systolic phase (systole) and lower velocities during the early diastolic phase (diastole). Furthermore, we analyzed the shear stress of the vessel wall and the mean shear stress over time. Additionally, the distribution of oscillatory shear rate, commonly used in hemodynamic analyses, was examined to assess the effects of blood flow on the blood vessels. Countermeasures to mitigate the negative effects of weightlessness on astronauts health are discussed, including exercises performed on the equipment aboard the space station. These exercises aim to maintain optimal blood flow, prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Żyłka
- The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Rzeszow University of Technology, av. Powstańców Warszawy 8, 35-959, Rzeszów, Poland.
| | - Grzegorz Górski
- Institute of Physics, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszów, ul. Pigonia 1, 35-310, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Wojciech Żyłka
- Institute of Materials Engineering, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszów, ul. Pigonia 1, 35-310, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gala-Błądzińska
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, Al. mjr. W. Kopisto 2a, 35-959, Rzeszów, Poland
- Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Endocrinology Clinic, St. Queen Jadwiga Clinical District Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszow, ul. Lwowska 60, 35-301, Rzeszów, Poland
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3
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Gros A, Furlan FM, Rouglan V, Favereaux A, Bontempi B, Morel JL. Physical exercise restores adult neurogenesis deficits induced by simulated microgravity. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:69. [PMID: 38906877 PMCID: PMC11192769 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00411-6] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairments have been reported in astronauts during spaceflights and documented in ground-based models of simulated microgravity (SMG) in animals. However, the neuronal causes of these behavioral effects remain largely unknown. We explored whether adult neurogenesis, known to be a crucial plasticity mechanism supporting memory processes, is altered by SMG. Adult male Long-Evans rats were submitted to the hindlimb unloading model of SMG. We studied the proliferation, survival and maturation of newborn cells in the following neurogenic niches: the subventricular zone (SVZ)/olfactory bulb (OB) and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, at different delays following various periods of SMG. SMG exposure for 7 days, but not shorter periods of 6 or 24 h, resulted in a decrease of newborn cell proliferation restricted to the DG. SMG also induced a decrease in short-term (7 days), but not long-term (21 days), survival of newborn cells in the SVZ/OB and DG. Physical exercise, used as a countermeasure, was able to reverse the decrease in newborn cell survival observed in the SVZ and DG. In addition, depending on the duration of SMG periods, transcriptomic analysis revealed modifications in gene expression involved in neurogenesis. These findings highlight the sensitivity of adult neurogenesis to gravitational environmental factors during a transient period, suggesting that there is a period of adaptation of physiological systems to this new environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Gros
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, F-75001, Paris, France
| | - Fandilla Marie Furlan
- CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Genetics & Evolution, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Rouglan
- CNRS, IINS, UMR 5297, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Bruno Bontempi
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Luc Morel
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
- CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, University Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
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4
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Nelson AM, Lacinski RA, Steller JG. Spaceflight-associated pain. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2024:00001503-990000000-00204. [PMID: 39011662 DOI: 10.1097/aco.0000000000001401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Consequences of the expanding commercial spaceflight industry include an increase in total number of spaceflight participants and an accompanying surge in the average number of medical comorbidities compared with government-based astronaut corps. A sequela of these developments is an anticipated rise in acute and chronic pain concerns associated with spaceflight. This review will summarize diagnostic and therapeutic areas of interest that can support the comfort of humans in spaceflight. RECENT FINDINGS Painful conditions that occur in space may be due to exposure to numerous stressors such as acceleration and vibration during launch, trauma associated with extravehicular activities, and morbidity resulting directly from weightlessness. Without normal gravitational forces and biomechanical stress, the hostile environment of space causes muscle atrophy, bone demineralization, joint stiffness, and spinal disc dysfunction, resulting in a myriad of pain generators. Repeated insults from abnormal environmental exposures are thought to contribute to the development of painful musculoskeletal and neuropathic conditions. SUMMARY As humanity invests in Lunar and Martian exploration, understanding the painful conditions that will impede crew productivity and mission outcomes is critical. Preexisting pain and new-onset acute or chronic pain resulting from spaceflight will require countermeasures and treatments to mitigate long-term health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariana M Nelson
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Orange, California
| | - Ryan A Lacinski
- Department of Orthopaedics, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Jonathan G Steller
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Orange, California, USA
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Murgia M, Rittweger J, Reggiani C, Bottinelli R, Mann M, Schiaffino S, Narici MV. Spaceflight on the ISS changed the skeletal muscle proteome of two astronauts. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:60. [PMID: 38839773 PMCID: PMC11153545 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00406-3] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle undergoes atrophy and loss of force during long space missions, when astronauts are persistently exposed to altered gravity and increased ionizing radiation. We previously carried out mass spectrometry-based proteomics from skeletal muscle biopsies of two astronauts, taken before and after a mission on the International Space Station. The experiments were part of an effort to find similarities between spaceflight and bed rest, a ground-based model of unloading, focused on proteins located at the costameres. We here extend the data analysis of the astronaut dataset and show compartment-resolved changes in the mitochondrial proteome, remodeling of the extracellular matrix and of the antioxidant response. The astronauts differed in their level of onboard physical exercise, which correlated with their respective preservation of muscle mass and force at landing in previous analyses. We show that the mitochondrial proteome downregulation during spaceflight, particularly the inner membrane and matrix, was dramatic for both astronauts. The expression of autophagy regulators and reactive oxygen species scavengers, however, showed partially opposite expression trends in the two subjects, possibly correlating with their level of onboard exercise. As mitochondria are primarily affected in many different tissues during spaceflight, we hypothesize that reactive oxygen species (ROS) rather than mechanical unloading per se could be the primary cause of skeletal muscle mitochondrial damage in space. Onboard physical exercise might have a strong direct effect on the prevention of muscle atrophy through mechanotransduction and a subsidiary effect on mitochondrial quality control, possibly through upregulation of autophagy and anti-oxidant responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Murgia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padua, Italy.
- Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Jörn Rittweger
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Carlo Reggiani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Science and Research Center Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research, 6000, Koper, Slovenia
| | - Roberto Bottinelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Matthias Mann
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padua, Italy
- NNF Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Marco V Narici
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Science and Research Center Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research, 6000, Koper, Slovenia
- CIR-MYO Myology Center, 35121, Padua, Italy
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6
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Frett T, Lecheler L, Arz M, Pustowalow W, Petrat G, Mommsen F, Breuer J, Schmitz MT, Green DA, Jordan J. Acute cardiovascular and muscular response to rowing ergometer exercise in artificial gravity - a pilot trial. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:57. [PMID: 38782970 PMCID: PMC11116499 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00402-7] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Prolonged immobilization and spaceflight cause cardiovascular and musculoskeletal deconditioning. Combining artificial gravity through short-arm centrifugation with rowing exercise may serve as a countermeasure. We aimed to compare the tolerability, muscle force production, cardiovascular response, and power output of rowing on a short-arm centrifuge and under terrestrial gravity. Twelve rowing athletes (4 women, aged 27.2 ± 7.4 years, height 179 ± 0.1 cm, mass 73.7 ± 9.4 kg) participated in two rowing sessions, spaced at least six weeks apart. One session used a short-arm centrifuge with +0.5 Gz, while the other inclined the rowing ergometer by 26.6° to mimic centrifugal loading. Participants started self-paced rowing at 30 W, increasing by 15 W every three minutes until exhaustion. We measured rowing performance, heart rate, blood pressure, ground reaction forces, leg muscle activation, and blood lactate concentration. Rowing on the centrifuge was well-tolerated without adverse events. No significant differences in heart rate, blood pressure, or blood lactate concentration were observed between conditions. Inclined rowing under artificial gravity resulted in lower power output (-33%, p < 0.001) compared to natural gravity, but produced higher mean and peak ground reaction forces (p < 0.0001) and increased leg muscle activation. Muscle activation and ground reaction forces varied with rotational direction. Rowing in artificial gravity shows promise as a strategy against cardiovascular and muscular deconditioning during long-term spaceflight, but further investigation is required to understand its long-term effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Frett
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Leo Lecheler
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Arz
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Willi Pustowalow
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Guido Petrat
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Florian Mommsen
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jan Breuer
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marie-Therese Schmitz
- Institute of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - David Andrew Green
- European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany
- King's College London, London, UK
- Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany
- KBRwyle GmbH, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jens Jordan
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
- Chair of Aerospace Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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7
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Han X, Qu L, Yu M, Ye L, Shi L, Ye G, Yang J, Wang Y, Fan H, Wang Y, Tan Y, Wang C, Li Q, Lei W, Chen J, Liu Z, Shen Z, Li Y, Hu S. Thiamine-modified metabolic reprogramming of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte under space microgravity. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:86. [PMID: 38584163 PMCID: PMC10999445 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01791-7] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
During spaceflight, the cardiovascular system undergoes remarkable adaptation to microgravity and faces the risk of cardiac remodeling. Therefore, the effects and mechanisms of microgravity on cardiac morphology, physiology, metabolism, and cellular biology need to be further investigated. Since China started constructing the China Space Station (CSS) in 2021, we have taken advantage of the Shenzhou-13 capsule to send human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) to the Tianhe core module of the CSS. In this study, hPSC-CMs subjected to space microgravity showed decreased beating rate and abnormal intracellular calcium cycling. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed a battery of metabolic remodeling of hPSC-CMs in spaceflight, especially thiamine metabolism. The microgravity condition blocked the thiamine intake in hPSC-CMs. The decline of thiamine utilization under microgravity or by its antagonistic analog amprolium affected the process of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. It decreased ATP production, which led to cytoskeletal remodeling and calcium homeostasis imbalance in hPSC-CMs. More importantly, in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that thiamine supplementation could reverse the adaptive changes induced by simulated microgravity. This study represents the first astrobiological study on the China Space Station and lays a solid foundation for further aerospace biomedical research. These data indicate that intervention of thiamine-modified metabolic reprogramming in human cardiomyocytes during spaceflight might be a feasible countermeasure against microgravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinglong Han
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lina Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Miao Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lingqun Ye
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Liujia Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Guangfu Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Jingsi Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yaning Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hao Fan
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yingjun Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Lei
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jianghai Chen
- Department of Hand Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhaoxia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenya Shen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Yinghui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China.
| | - Shijun Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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8
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Khan OM, Gasperini W, Necessary C, Jacobs Z, Perry S, Rexroat J, Nelson K, Gamble P, Clements T, DeLeon M, Howard S, Zavala A, Farach-Carson M, Blaber E, Wu D, Satici A, Uzer G. Development and Characterization of a low intensity vibrational system for microgravity studies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.20.567870. [PMID: 38045225 PMCID: PMC10690179 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.20.567870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The advent of extended-duration human spaceflight demands a better comprehension of the physiological impacts of microgravity. One primary concern is the adverse impact on the musculoskeletal system, including muscle atrophy and bone density reduction. Ground-based microgravity simulations have provided insights, with vibrational bioreactors emerging as potential mitigators of these negative effects. Despite the potential they have, the adaptation of vibrational bioreactors for space remains unfulfilled, resulting in a significant gap in microgravity research. This paper introduces the first automated low-intensity vibrational (LIV) bioreactor designed specifically for the International Space Station (ISS) environment. Our research covers the bioreactor's design and characterization, the selection of an optimal linear guide for consistent 1-axis acceleration, a thorough analysis of its thermal and diffusion dynamics, and the pioneering use of BioMed Clear resin for enhanced scaffold design. This advancement sets the stage for more authentic space-based biological studies, vital for ensuring the safety of future space explorations.
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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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Mahmood R, Shaik T, Kaur IP, Gupta V, Shaik A, Anamika F, Garg N, Jain R. Cardiovascular Challenges Beyond Earth: Investigating the Impact of Space Travel on Astronauts' Cardiovascular Health. Cardiol Rev 2024:00045415-990000000-00194. [PMID: 38230953 DOI: 10.1097/crd.0000000000000642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
In the coming decades, as humanity aims to establish a presence on Mars, there is a growing significance in comprehending, monitoring, and controlling the diverse health challenges arising from space exploration. The extended exposure to microgravity during space missions leads to various physical alterations in astronauts, such as shifts in bodily fluids, reduced plasma volume, loss of bone density, muscle wasting, and cardiovascular deconditioning. These changes can ultimately lead to orthostatic intolerance, underscoring the increasing importance of addressing these health risks. Astronauts are exposed to cosmic radiation consisting of high-energy particles from various sources, including solar cosmic rays and galactic cosmic rays. These radiations can impact the electrical signals in the heart, potentially causing irregular heart rhythms. Understanding the risks to the heart and blood circulation brought on by exposure to space radiation and the overall stress of spaceflight is essential and this article reviews the cardiovascular effects of space travel on astronauts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramsha Mahmood
- From the Department of Internal Medicine, Avalon University School of Medicine, Willemstad, Curacao
| | - Tanveer Shaik
- From the Department of Internal Medicine, Avalon University School of Medicine, Willemstad, Curacao
| | - Inder P Kaur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Preventive Medicine Resident, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
| | - Vasu Gupta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | | | - Fnu Anamika
- Department of Internal Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Nikita Garg
- Department of Paediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI; and
| | - Rohit Jain
- Department of Internal Medicine, Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
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11
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Adams JA, Uryash A, Lopez JR. Harnessing Passive Pulsatile Shear Stress for Alzheimer's Disease Prevention and Intervention. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 98:387-401. [PMID: 38393906 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231010] [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] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects more than 40 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of dementia. This disease is a challenge for both patients and caregivers and puts a significant strain on the global healthcare system. To address this issue, the Lancet Commission recommends focusing on reducing modifiable lifestyle risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and physical inactivity. Passive pulsatile shear stress (PPSS) interventions, which use devices like whole-body periodic acceleration, periodic acceleration along the Z-axis (pGz), and the Jogging Device, have shown significant systemic and cellular effects in preclinical and clinical models which address these modifiable risks factors. Based on this, we propose that PPSS could be a potential non-pharmacological and non-invasive preventive or therapeutic strategy for AD. We perform a comprehensive review of the biological basis based on all publications of PPSS using these devices and demonstrate their effects on the various aspects of AD. We draw from this comprehensive analysis to support our hypothesis. We then delve into the possible application of PPSS as an innovative intervention. We discuss how PPSS holds promise in ameliorating hypertension and diabetes while mitigating physical inactivity, potentially offering a holistic approach to AD prevention and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Adams
- Division of Neonatology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL, USA
| | - Arkady Uryash
- Division of Neonatology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL, USA
| | - Jose R Lopez
- Department of Research, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL, USA
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Ramos-Nascimento A, Grenga L, Haange SB, Himmelmann A, Arndt FS, Ly YT, Miotello G, Pible O, Jehmlich N, Engelmann B, von Bergen M, Mulder E, Frings-Meuthen P, Hellweg CE, Jordan J, Rolle-Kampczyk U, Armengaud J, Moeller R. Human gut microbiome and metabolite dynamics under simulated microgravity. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2259033. [PMID: 37749878 PMCID: PMC10524775 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2259033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Artificial Gravity Bed Rest - European Space Agency (AGBRESA) study was the first joint bed rest study by ESA, DLR, and NASA that examined the effect of simulated weightlessness on the human body and assessed the potential benefits of artificial gravity as a countermeasure in an analog of long-duration spaceflight. In this study, we investigated the impact of simulated microgravity on the gut microbiome of 12 participants during a 60-day head-down tilt bed rest at the :envihab facilities. Over 60 days of simulated microgravity resulted in a mild change in the gut microbiome, with distinct microbial patterns and pathway expression in the feces of the countermeasure group compared to the microgravity simulation-only group. Additionally, we found that the countermeasure protocols selectively increased the abundance of beneficial short-chain fatty acids in the gut, such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate. Some physiological signatures also included the modulation of taxa reported to be either beneficial or opportunistic, indicating a mild adaptation in the microbiome network balance. Our results suggest that monitoring the gut microbial catalog along with pathway clustering and metabolite profiling is an informative synergistic strategy to determine health disturbances and the outcome of countermeasure protocols for future space missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ramos-Nascimento
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
| | - Lucia Grenga
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Bagnols sur Cèze, France
| | - Sven-Bastiaan Haange
- Department of Metabolomics, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexandra Himmelmann
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
| | - Franca Sabine Arndt
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
| | - Yen-Tran Ly
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
| | - Guylaine Miotello
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Bagnols sur Cèze, France
| | - Olivier Pible
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Bagnols sur Cèze, France
| | - Nico Jehmlich
- Department of Metabolomics, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beatrice Engelmann
- Department of Metabolomics, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin von Bergen
- Department of Metabolomics, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Edwin Mulder
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
| | - Petra Frings-Meuthen
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Jens Jordan
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
| | - Ulrike Rolle-Kampczyk
- Department of Metabolomics, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jean Armengaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Bagnols sur Cèze, France
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Cologne, Germany
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Clément G, Kuldavletova O, Macaulay TR, Wood SJ, Navarro Morales DC, Toupet M, Hautefort C, Van Nechel C, Quarck G, Denise P. Cognitive and balance functions of astronauts after spaceflight are comparable to those of individuals with bilateral vestibulopathy. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1284029. [PMID: 37965165 PMCID: PMC10641777 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1284029] [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: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study compares the balance control and cognitive responses of subjects with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) to those of astronauts immediately after they return from long-duration spaceflight on board the International Space Station. Methods Twenty-eight astronauts and thirty subjects with BVP performed five tests using the same procedures: sit-to-stand, walk-and-turn, tandem walk, duration judgment, and reaction time. Results Compared to the astronauts' preflight responses, the BVP subjects' responses were impaired in all five tests. However, the BVP subjects' performance during the walk-and-turn and the tandem walk tests were comparable to the astronauts' performance on the day they returned from space. Moreover, the BVP subjects' time perception and reaction time were comparable to those of the astronauts during spaceflight. The BVP subjects performed the sit-to-stand test at a level that fell between the astronauts' performance on the day of landing and 1 day later. Discussion These results indicate that the alterations in dynamic balance control, time perception, and reaction time that astronauts experience after spaceflight are likely driven by central vestibular adaptations. Vestibular and somatosensory training in orbit and vestibular rehabilitation after spaceflight could be effective countermeasures for mitigating these post-flight performance decrements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Clément
- Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France
- KBR, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Olga Kuldavletova
- Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France
| | | | - Scott J Wood
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Deborah C Navarro Morales
- Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France
| | - Michel Toupet
- Centre d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Oto-Neurologiques, Paris, France
| | - Charlotte Hautefort
- Université de Paris Cité, INSERM U1141, Paris, France
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, Lariboisière Hospital, Paris, France
| | | | - Gaëlle Quarck
- Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France
| | - Pierre Denise
- Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France
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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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Shibata S, Wakeham DJ, Thomas JD, Abdullah SM, Platts S, Bungo MW, Levine BD. Cardiac Effects of Long-Duration Space Flight. J Am Coll Cardiol 2023; 82:674-684. [PMID: 37587578 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.05.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ventricular mass responds to changes in physical activity and loading, with cardiac hypertrophy after exercise training, and cardiac atrophy after sustained inactivity. Ventricular wall stress (ie, loading) decreases during microgravity. Cardiac atrophy does not plateau during 12 weeks of simulated microgravity but is mitigated by concurrent exercise training. OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine whether the current exercise countermeasures on the International Space Station (ISS) offset cardiac atrophy during prolonged space flight. METHODS We measured left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) mass and volumes (via magnetic resonance imaging) in 13 astronauts (4 females; age 49 ± 4 years), between 75 and 60 days before and 3 days after 155 ± 31 days aboard the ISS. Furthermore, we assessed total cardiac work between 21 and 7 days before space flight and 15 days before the end of the mission. Data were compared via paired-samples t-tests. RESULTS Total cardiac work was lower during space flight (P = 0.008); however, we observed no meaningful difference in LV mass postflight (pre: 115 ± 30 g vs post: 118 ± 29 g; P = 0.053), with marginally higher LV stroke volume (P = 0.074) and ejection fraction postflight (P = 0.075). RV mass (P = 0.999), RV ejection fraction (P = 0.147), and ventricular end-diastolic (P = 0.934) and end-systolic volumes (P = 0.145) were not different postflight. There were strong positive correlations between the relative change in LV mass with the relative changes in total cardiac output (r = 0.73; P = 0.015) and total cardiac work (r = 0.53; P = 0.112). CONCLUSIONS The current exercise countermeasures used on the ISS appear effective in offsetting reductions in cardiac mass and volume, despite overall reductions in total cardiac work, during prolonged space flight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeki Shibata
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, Texas, USA; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Denis J Wakeham
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, Texas, USA; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | | | | | | - Michael W Bungo
- University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin D Levine
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, Texas, USA; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
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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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