Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heather R. McGregor, Kathleen E. Hupfeld, Ofer Pasternak, Nichole E. Beltran, Yiri E. De Dios, Jacob J. Bloomberg, Scott J. Wood, Ajitkumar P. Mulavara, Roy F. Riascos, Patricia A. Reuter-Lorenz, Rachael D. Seidler
Summary: Spaceflight induces widespread changes in human brain morphology. Longer missions are associated with greater expansion of the right lateral and third ventricles, while shorter inter-mission intervals lead to ventricle enlargement following flight. These findings demonstrate potential plateaus in and boundaries of human brain changes with spaceflight.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Gilles R. Clement, Brian E. Crucian, Meghan Downs, Stephanie Krieger, Steve S. Laurie, Stuart M. C. Lee, Edwin Mulder, Peter G. Roma, Jean D. Sibonga, Scott M. Smith, Michael B. Stenger, Scott J. Wood, Sara R. Zwart
Summary: The VaPER study conducted in the envihab facility in Cologne, Germany in 2017 found that strict 30-day bed rest at 6 degrees head down tilt in an elevated CO2 environment may lead to mild immunological dysregulation, changes in nutritional status, and optic disc edema in some subjects. Interestingly, subjects with optic disc edema exhibited higher body temperature, anxiety, and insomnia levels during bed rest.
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Senthil Kumar Hariom, Akshara Ravi, Gokul Raj Mohan, Harani Devi Pochiraju, Sulagna Chattopadhyay, Everette Jacob Remington Nelson
Summary: Gravity has a profound impact on biological properties and can induce adaptive responses in physiological functions. Astronauts in microgravity environment often suffer from various physiological issues. Studies suggest that artificial gravity simulation could be a potential solution to space-incurred physiological disturbances.
Article
Microbiology
Xiaolei Su, Yinghua Guo, Tingzheng Fang, Xuege Jiang, Dapeng Wang, Diangeng Li, Po Bai, Bin Zhang, Junfeng Wang, Changting Liu
Summary: The exposure of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia to simulated microgravity resulted in increased growth rate, enhanced biofilm formation ability, increased swimming motility, and metabolic alterations compared to normal gravity, suggesting that simulated microgravity may upregulate related genes to alter physiological characteristics and modulate growth rate, motility, biofilm formation, and metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Gilles R. Clement, Brian E. Crucian, Meghan Downs, Stephanie Krieger, Steve S. Laurie, Stuart M. C. Lee, Brandon R. Macias, Edwin Mulder, Eric Rivas, Peter G. Roma, Marissa J. Rosenberg, Jean D. Sibonga, Scott M. Smith, Elisabeth R. Spector, Sara E. Whiting, Scott J. Wood, Sara R. Zwart
Summary: The AGBRESA study conducted by ESA aimed to investigate the physiological changes induced by simulated spaceflight environment through bed rest experiment, as well as the mitigation effects of centrifugation. The study found that subjects without centrifugation exhibited significant decreases in bone density, muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and psychological state, while daily exposure to centrifugation helped slow down these changes.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alex Buoite Stella, Milos Ajcevic, Giovanni Furlanis, Paolo Manganotti
Summary: Changes in physiological functions after spaceflight and simulated spaceflight involve various mechanisms, including microgravity, but more detailed studies on the complexity of neurophysiological systems are needed. Analysis of central nervous system changes using advanced techniques such as fMRI has shown involvement of several key areas, while studies on EEG and corticospinal excitability have yielded contrasting results. More research on somatosensory evoked potentials and peripheral nerve function during simulated microgravity may provide insights useful for space exploration and clinical applications.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Cheryl A. Nickerson, Audrie A. Medina-Colorado, Jennifer Barrila, George Poste, C. Mark Ott
Summary: Microbiological research has made significant discoveries about how life responds to non-terrestrial environments, such as the International Space Station. As human space exploration transitions to longer deep-space missions, microorganisms will continue to play a critical role in astronaut health, habitat sustainability, and mission success.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Koichi Fujisawa, Yuto Nishimura, Akino Sakuragi, Jolien Duponselle, Toshihiko Matsumoto, Naoki Yamamoto, Tomoaki Murata, Isao Sakaida, Taro Takami
Summary: Research has been conducted to develop new medical treatments by simulating environments existing in space, such as zero-gravity. In this study, cell proliferation and gene expression of activated primary human hepatic stellate cells (HHSteCs) under simulated microgravity (SMG) were evaluated. The findings showed slower cell proliferation under SMG conditions, as well as changes in gene expression and oxidative stress. Upstream regulators were activated and cell-permeable inhibitors were inhibited, and cytoskeletal changes were observed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Stephanie Schoss, Oliver Ullrich, Jean-Francois Clervoy, David Scheffer
Summary: Earth's gravity plays a crucial role in shaping human life, including self-awareness and spatial orientation. Our study suggests that altered gravity can trigger emotional and motivational responses, particularly in relation to interpersonal connection. This provides theoretical support for the psychological link between Earth's gravity and human relationships.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sophia Shaka, Nicholas Carpo, Victoria Tran, Araceli Espinosa-Jeffrey
Summary: Human neural stem cells flown into space were successfully induced into astrocytes after a slow process lasting several weeks, showing slow but significant proliferation and a tendency to continue proliferating at the same pace. Astrocytes, a major type of glial cells, are crucial for the normal function of the central nervous system and are increasingly recognized as a critical component in most neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the effects of space microgravity on astrocytes is essential for long-duration space travel.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Nandu Goswami, Olivier White, Andrew Blaber, Joyce Evans, Jack J. W. A. van Loon, Gilles Clement
Summary: This review provides an overview of the physiological effects of gravity level transitions in space exploration missions, emphasizing the need for further research to understand adaptation mechanisms and proposing artificial gravity as a countermeasure. The paper discusses the limited evidence on the effects of partial gravity and advocates for the exploration of artificial gravity in short and very long-arm centrifuges as potential countermeasures. The use of acute short-arm artificial gravity as well as chronic artificial gravity via the H-3 concept are also examined in the context of physiological adaptation during gravity level transitions.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sara Reardon
Summary: Surgeons successfully transplanted pig organs into human recipients for the first time this year. Researchers are eager to conduct more human trials.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Zhanping Ren, Anicca D. D. Harriot, Devin B. B. Mair, Michael K. K. Chung, Peter H. U. Lee, Deok-Ho Kim
Summary: The growing interest in bioengineering in-vivo-like 3D functional tissues has led to novel approaches to biomanufacturing and expanded applications. Microgravity, as seen in spaceflight, has potential benefits to tissue engineering but cannot be completely replicated on Earth. Bioengineered microphysiological systems provide an attractive research model due to the practical challenges of conducting research in space. This review summarizes published research on the use of real and simulated microgravity to improve biomanufacturing and model human diseases, discussing platforms, applications, and achievements.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cora S. Thiel, Christian Vahlensieck, Timothy Bradley, Svantje Tauber, Martin Lehmann, Oliver Ullrich
Summary: This study conducted a metabolomics analysis on primary human macrophages to investigate the short-term and long-term effects of microgravity, revealing changes in amino acid concentration, protein degradation processes, and metabolic adaptations. The results suggest highly dynamic and robust metabolic changes occur in altered gravity, contributing significantly to understanding the integrative effects of gravity on human cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Funmilola A. Oluwafemi, Adhithiyan Neduncheran
Summary: Gravity on Earth can be modified or compensated using microgravity platforms. Products created under microgravity often have superior properties compared to their terrestrial counterparts, making them attractive for marketing. Different types of platforms, such as drop towers and space laboratories, are used for short-term and long-term experiments to study the effects of microgravity.
ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Fiona D. Mello, Nady Braidy, Helder Marcal, Gilles Guillemin, Seyed Mohammad Nabavi, Brett A. Neilan
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Jessica Cardenas Turner, George Collins, Elizabeth A. Blaber, Eduardo A. C. Almeida, Treena L. Arinzeh
JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Sherina Malkani, Christopher R. Chin, Egle Cekanaviciute, Marie Mortreux, Hazeem Okinula, Marcel Tarbier, Ann-Sofie Schreurs, Yasaman Shirazi-Fard, Candice G. T. Tahimic, Deyra N. Rodriguez, Brittany S. Sexton, Daniel Butler, Akanksha Verma, Daniela Bezdan, Ceyda Durmaz, Matthew MacKay, Ari Melnick, Cem Meydan, Sheng Li, Francine Garrett-Bakelman, Bastian Fromm, Ebrahim Afshinnekoo, Brad W. Langhorst, Eileen T. Dimalanta, Margareth Cheng-Campbell, Elizabeth Blaber, Jonathan C. Schisler, Charles Vanderburg, Marc R. Friedlaender, J. Tyson McDonald, Sylvain Costes, Seward Rutkove, Peter Grabham, Christopher E. Mason, Afshin Beheshti
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yen-Ruh Wuu, Burong Hu, Hazeem Okunola, Amber M. Paul, Elizabeth A. Blaber, Margareth Cheng-Campbell, Afshin Beheshti, Peter Grabham
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amber M. Paul, Margareth Cheng-Campbell, Elizabeth A. Blaber, Sulekha Anand, Sharmila Bhattacharya, Sara R. Zwart, Brian E. Crucian, Scott M. Smith, Robert Meller, Peter Grabham, Afshin Beheshti
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eliah G. Overbey, Amanda M. Saravia-Butler, Zhe Zhang, Komal S. Rathi, Homer Fogle, Willian A. da Silveira, Richard J. Barker, Joseph J. Bass, Afshin Beheshti, Daniel C. Berrios, Elizabeth A. Blaber, Egle Cekanaviciute, Helio A. Costa, Laurence B. Davin, Kathleen M. Fisch, Samrawit G. Gebre, Matthew Geniza, Rachel Gilbert, Simon Gilroy, Gary Hardiman, Raul Herranz, Yared H. Kidane, Colin P. S. Kruse, Michael D. Lee, Ted Liefeld, Norman G. Lewis, J. Tyson McDonald, Robert Meller, Tejaswini Mishra, Imara Y. Perera, Shayoni Ray, Sigrid S. Reinsch, Sara Brin Rosenthal, Michael Strong, Nathaniel J. Szewczyk, Candice G. T. Tahimic, Deanne M. Taylor, Joshua P. Vandenbrink, Alicia Villacampa, Silvio Weging, Chris Wolverton, Sarah E. Wyatt, Luis Zea, Sylvain Costes, Jonathan M. Galazka
Summary: With the advancement of transcriptomic technologies, NASA GeneLab and associated working groups have developed a consensus pipeline for analyzing short-read RNA-sequencing data from spaceflight experiments, which is now publicly available. This aims to promote transparency, reproducibility, and reusability of data, provide a template for future data processing, and encourage cross-analysis of data from different databases.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Cassandra M. Juran, Justina Zvirblyte, Margareth Cheng-Campbell, Elizabeth A. Blaber, Eduardo A. C. Almeida
Summary: In the experiment, cyclically stretched Cdkn1a(-/-) cells showed nearly 4 times more proliferation compared to wildtype, while static Cdkn1a(-/-) cells exhibited a 2.5-fold increase. Additionally, single cell RNAseq analyses revealed that expression of Cdkn1a was strongly suppressed by cyclic stretch in early and late osteoblasts, with minimal effect on the progenitor population. Furthermore, both mechanical stretch and Cdkn1a deletion led to a shift in cell population from osteoprogenitors to osteoblasts, indicating enhanced differentiation.
STEM CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meghana Pendyala, Paige S. Woods, Douglas K. Brubaker, Elizabeth A. Blaber, Tannin A. Schmidt, Deva D. Chan
Summary: The study demonstrates that cyclic loading can modulate the endogenous production of hyaluronan, PRG4, and cytokines from synovial fibroblasts. The concentration of hyaluronan and PRG4 is affected by the magnitude of strain, and different strain levels can result in distinct cytokine profiles.
Meeting Abstract
Ophthalmology
Tasneem Putliwala Sharma, Ryan C. S. Miller, Shahna P. ShahulHameed, Angela Kubik, Noah Allen, Selin Altinok, Leah E. Oswalt, Rebekah Sanchez-Hodge, Jonathan Cummings Schisler, Elizabeth Blaber, Afshin Beheshti
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Alexander Regner, Kalin Gibbons, Derek Nesbitt, Elizabeth Blaber, Trevor Lujan, Claire Fitzpatrick, Mary C. Farach-Carson, Danielle Wu, Gunes Uzer
TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Meghana Pendyala, Samuel Stephen, Elizabeth Blaber, Deepak Vashishth, Deva Chan
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Meghana Pendyala, Samuel Stephen, Elizabeth Blaber, Deepak Vashishth, Deva Chan
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Immunology
Amber M. Paul, Margareth Cheng-Campbell, Elizabeth A. Blaber, Sulekha Anand, Sharmila Bhattacharya, Sara R. Zwart, Brian E. Crucian, Scott M. Smith, Robert Meller, Peter Grabham, Afshin Beheshti
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Jeffrey S. Willey, Richard A. Britten, Elizabeth Blaber, Candice G. T. Tahimic, Jeffrey Chancellor, Marie Mortreux, Larry D. Sanford, Angela J. Kubik, Michael D. Delp, Xiao Wen Mao
Summary: Both microgravity and radiation exposure in the spaceflight environment have been identified as hazards to astronaut health and performance. Study on the biology and risks associated with these hazards have mainly focused on individual aspects, but combined hazard studies are essential for understanding the risks astronauts face outside of low earth orbit. This review highlights the combined effects of radiation and reduced weight-bearing from ground-based analog models for microgravity and radiation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH PART C-TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Amy Fisher, Daniel Wangpraseurt, Anthony W. D. Larkum, Michael Johnson, Michael Kuhl, Min Chen, Hon Lun Wong, Brendan P. Burns
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2019)
