NPJ Microgravity
January 2025
Systemic mitochondrial dysfunction, dopamine loss, sustained structural changes in the basal ganglia including reduced tyrosine hydroxylase, and altered gait- these effects observed in space-flown animals and astronauts mirrors Parkinson's disease (PD). Evidence of mitochondrial changes in space-flown human cells, examined through the lens of PD, suggests that spaceflight-induced PD-like molecular changes are important to monitor during deep space exploration. These changes, may potentially elevate the risk of PD in astronauts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenomic plasticity helps adapt to extreme environmental conditions. We tested the hypothesis that exposure to space environment (ESE) impacts the epigenome inducing genomic plasticity. Murine skin samples from the Rodent Research Reference Mission-1 were procured from the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuron-glial cell interactions following traumatic brain injury (TBI) determine the propagation of damage and long-term neurodegeneration. Spatiotemporally heterogeneous cytosolic and mitochondrial metabolic pathways are involved, leading to challenges in developing effective diagnostics and treatments. An engineered three-dimensional brain tissue model comprising human neurons, astrocytes, and microglia is used in combination with label-free, two-photon imaging and microRNA studies to characterize metabolic interactions between glial and neuronal cells over 72 hours following impact injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLethal COVID-19 outcomes are attributed to classic cytokine storm. We revisit this using RNA sequencing of nasopharyngeal and 40 autopsy samples from patients dying of SARS-CoV-2. Subsets of the 100 top-upregulated genes in nasal swabs are upregulated in the heart, lung, kidney, and liver, but not mediastinal lymph nodes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing concern in public health, which affects about 10% of the population. There are several chronic complications due to DM, including kidney failure, blindness, amputations, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Cinnamon zeylanicum (C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo be able to understand how spaceflight can affect human biology, there is a need for maximizing the amount of information that can be obtained from experiments flown to space. Recently there has been an influx of data obtained from astronauts through multi-omics approaches based on both governmental and commercial spaceflight missions. In addition to data from humans, mitochondrial specific data is gathered for other experiments from rodents and other organisms that are flown in space.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBig data refers to a large amount of data generated and distributed across diverse data sources from open, private, social, and Internet of Things (IoT). Understanding and harnessing the big data in the biomedical sciences, specifically in neurosurgery, is crucial as it can lead to breakthroughs in understanding complex neurological disorders, optimizing surgical interventions, evaluating long-term patient outcomes, and developing predictive models of disease progression, enabling personalized treatment plans tailored to the genetic, molecular, and environmental factors unique to each patient. Furthermore, Big data analytics can facilitate a deeper understanding of the socioeconomic factors contributing to neurological disorders, leading to more effective public health strategies and interventions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in human disorders, from cancers to infectious diseases. Targeting miRNAs or their target genes with small molecules offers opportunities to modulate dysregulated cellular processes linked to diseases. Yet, predicting small molecules associated with miRNAs remains challenging due to the small size of small molecule-miRNA datasets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe possibility of impaired cognitive function during deep space flight missions or while living on a Martian colony is a critical point of concern and pleads for further research. In addition, a fundamental gap exists both in our understanding and application of countermeasures for the consequences of long duration space travel and/or living in an extreme environment such as on the Moon or Mars. Previous studies, while heavily analyzing pre- and post-flight conditions, mostly fail to appreciate the cognitive stressors associated with space radiation, microgravity, confinement, hostile or closed environments, and the long distances from earth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the era of renewed space exploration, comprehending the effects of the space environment on human health, particularly for deep space missions, is crucial. While extensive research exists on the impacts of spaceflight, there is a gap regarding female reproductive risks. We hypothesize that space stressors could have enduring effects on female health, potentially increasing risks for future pregnancies upon return to Earth, particularly related to small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing by ADAR1 has been implicated in maintaining self-tolerance, preventing autoimmunity, and mediating antiviral immunity. Foreign viral double-stranded RNA triggers rapid interferon response and activates ADAR1 in the host immune system. Emerging data points to a role of ADAR1 A-to-I editing in the inflammatory response associated with severe COVID-19 disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderstanding the regulatory mechanisms of gene expression is a crucial objective in genomics. Although the DNA sequence near the transcription start site (TSS) offers valuable insights, recent methods suggest that analyzing only the surrounding DNA may not suffice to accurately predict gene expression levels. We developed GENet (Gene Expression Network from Histone and Transcription Factor Integration), a novel approach that integrates essential regulatory signals from transcription factors and histone modifications into a graph-based model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOrganismal 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman space exploration poses inherent risks to astronauts' health, leading to molecular changes that can significantly impact their well-being. These alterations encompass genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, increased inflammation, homeostatic dysregulation, and various epigenomic changes. Remarkably, these changes bear similarities to those observed during the aging process on Earth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is now widely recognised that the environment in space activates a diverse set of genes involved in regulating fundamental cellular pathways. This includes the activation of genes associated with blood homoeostasis and erythropoiesis, with a particular emphasis on those involved in globin chain production. Haemoglobin biology provides an intriguing model for studying space omics, as it has been extensively explored at multiple -omic levels, spanning DNA, RNA, and protein analyses, in both experimental and clinical contexts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpaceflight can change metabolic, immunological, and biological homeostasis and cause skin rashes and irritation, yet the molecular basis remains unclear. To investigate the impact of short-duration spaceflight on the skin, we conducted skin biopsies on the Inspiration4 crew members before (L-44) and after (R + 1) flight. Leveraging multi-omics assays including GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiler, single-cell RNA/ATAC-seq, and metagenomics/metatranscriptomics, we assessed spatial gene expressions and associated microbial and immune changes across 95 skin regions in four compartments: outer epidermis, inner epidermis, outer dermis, and vasculature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrogravity is associated with immunological dysfunction, though the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, using single-cell analysis of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) exposed to short term (25 hours) simulated microgravity, we characterize altered genes and pathways at basal and stimulated states with a Toll-like Receptor-7/8 agonist. We validate single-cell analysis by RNA sequencing and super-resolution microscopy, and against data from the Inspiration-4 (I4) mission, JAXA (Cell-Free Epigenome) mission, Twins study, and spleens from mice on the International Space Station.
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