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Importance: Understanding potential predisposing factors associated with spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) may influence its management. Objective: To describe a severe case of SANS associated with 2 potentially predisposing factors. Design, Setting, and Participants: Ocular testing of and blood collections from a female astronaut were completed preflight, inflight, and postflight in the setting of the International Space Station (ISS). Exposure: Weightlessness throughout an approximately 6-month ISS mission. Mean carbon dioxide (CO2) partial pressure decreased from 2.6 to 1.3 mm Hg weeks before the astronaut's flight day (FD) 154 optical coherence tomography (OCT) session. In response to SANS, 4 B-vitamin supplements (vitamin B6, 100 mg; L-methylfolate, 5 mg; vitamin B12, 1000 µg; and riboflavin, 400 mg) were deployed, unpacked on FD153, consumed daily through FD169, and then discontinued due to gastrointestinal discomfort. Main Outcomes and Measures: Refraction, distance visual acuity (DVA), optic nerve, and macular assessment on OCT. Results: Cycloplegic refraction was -1.00 diopter in both eyes preflight and +0.50 - 0.25 × 015 in the right eye and +1.00 diopter in the left eye 3 days postflight. Uncorrected DVA was 20/30 OU preflight, 20/16 or better by FD90, and 20/15 OU 3 days postflight. Inflight peripapillary total retinal thickness (TRT) peaked between FD84 and FD126 (right eye, 401 µm preflight, 613 µm on FD84; left eye, 404 µm preflight, 636 µm on FD126), then decreased. Peripapillary choroidal folds, quantified by surface roughness, peaked at 12.7 µm in the right eye on FD154 and 15.0 µm in the left eye on FD126, then decreased. Mean choroidal thickness increased throughout the mission. Genetic analyses revealed 2 minor alleles for MTRR 66 and 2 major alleles for SHMT1 1420 (ie, 4 of 4 SANS risk alleles). One-week postflight, lumbar puncture opening pressure was normal, at 19.4 cm H2O. Conclusions and Relevance: To the authors' knowledge, no other report of SANS documented as large of a change in peripapillary TRT or hyperopic shift during a mission as in this astronaut, and this was only 1 of 4 astronauts to experience chorioretinal folds approaching the fovea. This case showed substantial inflight improvement greater than the sensitivity of the measure, possibly associated with B-vitamin supplementation and/or reduction in cabin CO2. However, as a single report, such improvement could be coincidental to these interventions, warranting further evaluation.
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It 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. In this study, we examined the developmental expression of haemoglobin over time and space using a unique suite of multi-omic datasets available on NASA GeneLab, from the NASA Twins Study, the JAXA CFE study, and the Inspiration4 mission. Our findings reveal significant variations in globin gene expression corresponding to the distinct spatiotemporal characteristics of the collected samples. This study sheds light on the dynamic nature of globin gene regulation in response to the space environment and provides valuable insights into the broader implications of space omics research.
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Hemoglobinas , Humanos , Hemoglobinas/metabolismo , Hemoglobinas/genética , Vuelo Espacial , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Eritropoyesis/genética , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica/métodosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Spaceflight poses a unique set of challenges to humans and the hostile spaceflight environment can induce a wide range of increased health risks, including dermatological issues. The biology driving the frequency of skin issues in astronauts is currently not well understood. METHODS: To address this issue, we used a systems biology approach utilizing NASA's Open Science Data Repository (OSDR) on space flown murine transcriptomic datasets focused on the skin, biochemical profiles of 50 NASA astronauts and human transcriptomic datasets generated from blood and hair samples of JAXA astronauts, as well as blood samples obtained from the NASA Twins Study, and skin and blood samples from the first civilian commercial mission, Inspiration4. RESULTS: Key biological changes related to skin health, DNA damage & repair, and mitochondrial dysregulation are identified as potential drivers for skin health risks during spaceflight. Additionally, a machine learning model is utilized to determine gene pairings associated with spaceflight response in the skin. While we identified spaceflight-induced dysregulation, such as alterations in genes associated with skin barrier function and collagen formation, our results also highlight the remarkable ability for organisms to re-adapt back to Earth via post-flight re-tuning of gene expression. CONCLUSION: Our findings can guide future research on developing countermeasures for mitigating spaceflight-associated skin damage.
Spaceflight is a hostile environment which can lead to health problems in astronauts, including in the skin. It is not currently well understood why these skin problems occur. Here, we analyzed data from the skin of space flown mice and astronauts to try and identify possible explanations for these skin problems. It appears that changes in the activation of genes related to damage to DNA, skin barrier health, and mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells) may play a role in these skin problems. Further research will be needed to confirm exactly how these changes influence skin health, which could lead to solutions for preventing and managing such issues in astronauts.
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Spaceflight induces an immune response in astronauts. To better characterize this effect, we generated single-cell, multi-ome, cell-free RNA (cfRNA), biochemical, and hematology data for the SpaceX Inspiration4 (I4) mission crew. We found that 18 cytokines/chemokines related to inflammation, aging, and muscle homeostasis changed after spaceflight. In I4 single-cell multi-omics data, we identified a "spaceflight signature" of gene expression characterized by enrichment in oxidative phosphorylation, UV response, immune function, and TCF21 pathways. We confirmed the presence of this signature in independent datasets, including the NASA Twins Study, the I4 skin spatial transcriptomics, and 817 NASA GeneLab mouse transcriptomes. Finally, we observed that (1) T cells showed an up-regulation of FOXP3, (2) MHC class I genes exhibited long-term suppression, and (3) infection-related immune pathways were associated with microbiome shifts. In summary, this study reveals conserved and distinct immune disruptions occurring and details a roadmap for potential countermeasures to preserve astronaut health.
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Análisis de la Célula Individual , Vuelo Espacial , Transcriptoma , Animales , Femenino , Masculino , Humanos , Ratones , Astronautas , Citocinas/metabolismo , Linfocitos T/inmunología , Factores Sexuales , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Fosforilación OxidativaRESUMEN
A case report detailing, for the first time, a case of laboratory-confirmed zoster in an astronaut on board the International Space Station is presented. The findings of reduced T-cell function, cytokine imbalance, and increased stress hormones which preceded the event are detailed. Relevance for deep space countermeasures is discussed.
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From the early days of spaceflight to current missions, astronauts continue to be exposed to multiple hazards that affect human health, including low gravity, high radiation, isolation during long-duration missions, a closed environment and distance from Earth. Their effects can lead to adverse physiological changes and necessitate countermeasure development and/or longitudinal monitoring. A time-resolved analysis of biological signals can detect and better characterize potential adverse events during spaceflight, ideally preventing them and maintaining astronauts' wellness. Here we provide a time-resolved assessment of the impact of spaceflight on multiple astronauts (n = 27) by studying multiple biochemical and immune measurements before, during, and after long-duration orbital spaceflight. We reveal space-associated changes of astronauts' physiology on both the individual level and across astronauts, including associations with bone resorption and kidney function, as well as immune-system dysregulation.
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Dietary countermeasures to mitigate detrimental spaceflight-induced effects on bone health would alleviate the requirements and the consequences imposed by other types of countermeasures for this risk. We hypothesised that antioxidant supplementation during 60 days of 6° head-down tilt bed rest (HDBR), an analogue of spaceflight, would have a protective effect on bone mineral density (BMD), content (BMC) and bone structure parameters. An exploratory, randomised, controlled, single-blind intervention trial was conducted in a parallel design with 20 healthy male volunteers (age 34 ± 8 y, weight 74 ± 6 kg). The study included 14 days of baseline data collection (BDC) before bed rest, followed by 60 days of HDBR and a 14-day recovery period. Ten subjects in the antioxidant group received a supplement (741 mg/d polyphenols, 2.1 g/d omega-3 fatty acids, 168 mg/d vitamin E and 80 µg/d selenium) daily. Ten subjects in the control group received no supplement. The diet was consistent with dietary reference intakes, individually tailored based on the subject's bodyweight and strictly controlled. We measured whole-body, lumbar spine and femur BMD and BMC, as well as BMD of the cortical and trabecular compartments of the distal radius and tibia, and cortical and trabecular thickness during BDC, HDBR and recovery. Data were analysed using linear mixed models. The supplementation of an antioxidant cocktail did not mitigate the deteriorating effects of HDBR on BMD, BMC and bone structure parameters. Our findings do not support a recommendation for antioxidant supplementation for astronauts.
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Antioxidantes , Densidad Ósea , Humanos , Masculino , Adulto , Antioxidantes/uso terapéutico , Reposo en Cama/efectos adversos , Inclinación de Cabeza , Método Simple Ciego , Suplementos DietéticosRESUMEN
From the early days of spaceflight to current missions, astronauts continue to be exposed to multiple hazards that affect human health, including low gravity, high radiation, isolation during long-duration missions, a closed environment and distance from Earth. Their effects can lead to adverse physiological changes and necessitate countermeasure development and/or longitudinal monitoring. A time-resolved analysis of biological signals can detect and better characterize potential adverse events during spaceflight, ideally preventing them and maintaining astronauts' wellness. Here we provide a time-resolved assessment of the impact of spaceflight on multiple astronauts (n=27) by studying multiple biochemical and immune measurements before, during, and after long-duration orbital spaceflight. We reveal space-associated changes of astronauts' physiology on both the individual level and across astronauts, including associations with bone resorption and kidney function, as well as immune-system dysregulation.
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Recent experimental and computational investigations have shown that trace amounts of surfactants, unavoidable in practice, can critically impair the drag reduction of superhydrophobic surfaces (SHSs), by inducing Marangoni stresses at the air-liquid interface. However, predictive models for realistic SHS geometries do not yet exist, which has limited the understanding and mitigation of these adverse surfactant effects. To address this issue, we derive a model for laminar, three-dimensional flow over SHS gratings as a function of geometry and soluble surfactant properties, which together encompass 10 dimensionless groups. We establish that the grating length g is the key geometric parameter and predict that the ratio between actual and surfactant-free slip increases with g2. Guided by our model, we perform synergistic numerical simulations and microfluidic experiments, finding good agreement with the theory as we vary surfactant type and SHS geometry. Our model also enables the estimation, based on velocity measurements, of a priori unknown properties of surfactants inherently present in microfluidic systems. For SHSs, we show that surfactant effects can be predicted by a single parameter, representing the ratio between the grating length and the interface length scale beyond which the flow mobilizes the air-water interface. This mobilization length is more sensitive to the surfactant chemistry than to its concentration, such that even trace-level contaminants may significantly increase drag if they are highly surface active. These findings advance the fundamental understanding of realistic interfacial flows and provide practical strategies to maximize superhydrophobic drag reduction.
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Surfactantes Pulmonares , Tensoactivos , Tensoactivos/química , Microfluídica , Lipoproteínas , Interacciones Hidrofóbicas e HidrofílicasRESUMEN
Some astronauts on International Space Station missions experience neuroophthalmological pathologies as part of spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). Strict head-down tilt bed rest (HDTBR) is a spaceflight analog that replicates SANS findings and those who had 3-4 risk alleles (G and C alleles from the methionine synthase reductase [MTRR] A66G and serine hydroxymethyltransferase [SHMT1] C1420T, respectively) as compared to 1-2 risk alleles, had a greater increase in total retinal thickness (TRT). The objective of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the individual variability of the development of SANS in a 60 d HDTBR at the German Aerospace Center's:envihab facility, Cologne Germany. 22 of 24 subjects who participated in the HDTBR study provided blood samples for genetic analysis. Total retinal thickness and optic cup volume were measured before and after bed rest. Subjects with 3-4 versus 0-2 risk alleles had greater ΔTRT during and after bed rest, and the model improved with the addition of baseline optic cup volume. This bed rest study confirms that variants of MTRR and SHMT1 are associated with ocular pathologies. Subjects with more risk alleles had the greatest HDTBR-induced ΔTRT, reaffirming that genetics predispose some individuals to developing SANS. Preflight optic cup volume and genetics better predict ΔTRT than either one alone. Whether nutritional supplements can override the genetic influences on biochemistry, physiology, and pathophysiology remains to be tested. These findings have significant implications for both aerospace and terrestrial medicine.
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Astronauts on the International Space Station are exposed to levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) above typical terrestrial levels. We explored the possibility that increased levels of ambient CO2 further stimulate bone resorption during bed rest. We report here data from 2 ground-based spaceflight analog studies in which 12 male and 7 female subjects were placed in a strict 6° head-down tilt (HDT) position for either 30 days at 0.5% ambient CO2 or 60 days with nominal environmental exposure to CO2. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Blood and urine were collected before and after HDT for biochemical analysis. No change was detected in either BMD or BMC, as expected given the study duration. Bone resorption markers increased after bed rest as expected; however, elevated CO2 had no additive effect. Elevated CO2 did not affect concentrations of minerals in serum and urine. Serum parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were both reduced after bed rest, likely secondary to calcium efflux from bone. In summary, exposure to 0.5% CO2 for 30 days did not exacerbate the typical bone resorption response observed after HDT bed rest. Furthermore, results from these strict HDT studies were similar to data from previous bed rest studies, confirming that strict 30-60 days of HDT can be used to evaluate changes in bone metabolism. This is valuable in the continuing effort to develop and refine efficacious countermeasure protocols to mitigate bone loss during spaceflight in low-Earth orbit and beyond.
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Long-duration spaceflight impacts human physiology, including well documented immune system dysregulation. The space food system has the potential to serve as a countermeasure to maladaptive physiological changes during spaceflight. However, the relationship between dietary requirements, the food system, and spaceflight adaptation requires further investigation to adequately define countermeasures and prioritize resources on future spaceflight missions. We evaluated the impact of an enhanced spaceflight diet, with increased quantity and variety of fruits, vegetables, fish, and other foods rich in flavonoids and omega-3 fatty acids, compared to a standard spaceflight diet on multiple health and performance outcomes in 16 subjects over four 45-day closed chamber missions in the NASA Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA). Subjects consuming the enhanced spaceflight diet had lower cholesterol levels, lower stress (i.e. cortisol levels), better cognitive speed, accuracy, and attention, and a more stable microbiome and metatranscriptome than subjects consuming the standard diet. Although no substantial changes were observed in the immune response, there were also no immune challenges, such as illness or infection, so the full benefits of the diet may not have been apparent in these analog missions. These results indicate that a spaceflight diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids produces significant health and performance benefits even over short durations. Further investigation is required to fully develop dietary countermeasures to physiological decrements observed during spaceflight. These results will have implications for food resource prioritization on spaceflight missions.
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Ácidos Grasos Omega-3 , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Vuelo Espacial , Animales , Humanos , Dieta , Cognición , InmunidadRESUMEN
Spaceflight entails a variety of environmental and psychological stressors that may have long-term physiological and genomic consequences. Metabolomics, an approach that investigates the terminal metabolic outputs of complex physiological alterations, considers the dynamic state of the human body and allows the identification and quantification of down-stream metabolites linked to up-stream physiological and genomic regulation by stress. Employing a metabolomics-based approach, this study investigated longitudinal metabolic perturbations of male (n = 40) and female (n = 11) astronauts on 4-6-month missions to the International Space Station (ISS). Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy followed by univariate, multivariate and machine learning analyses were used on blood serum to examine sex-specific metabolic changes at various time points throughout the astronauts' missions, and the metabolic effects of long-duration space travel. Space travel resulted in sex-specific changes in energy metabolism, bone mineral and muscle regulation, immunity, as well as macromolecule maintenance and synthesis. Additionally, metabolic signatures suggest differential metabolic responses-especially during the recovery period-with females requiring more time to adjust to return to Earth. These findings provide insight into the perturbations in glucose and amino acid metabolism and macromolecule biosynthesis that result from the stressors of long-duration spaceflight. Metabolomic biomarkers may provide a viable approach to predicting and diagnosing health risks associated with prolonged space travel and other physiological challenges on Earth.
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Vuelo Espacial , Masculino , Femenino , Humanos , Vuelo Espacial/métodos , Astronautas , Factores de Tiempo , Biomarcadores , MetabolómicaRESUMEN
Determining the extent of bone recovery after prolonged spaceflight is important for understanding risks to astronaut long-term skeletal health. We examined bone strength, density, and microarchitecture in seventeen astronauts (14 males; mean 47 years) using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT; 61 µm). We imaged the tibia and radius before spaceflight, at return to Earth, and after 6- and 12-months recovery and assessed biomarkers of bone turnover and exercise. Twelve months after flight, group median tibia bone strength (F.Load), total, cortical, and trabecular bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone volume fraction and thickness remained - 0.9% to - 2.1% reduced compared with pre-flight (p ≤ 0.001). Astronauts on longer missions (> 6-months) had poorer bone recovery. For example, F.Load recovered by 12-months post-flight in astronauts on shorter (< 6-months; - 0.4% median deficit) but not longer (- 3.9%) missions. Similar disparities were noted for total, trabecular, and cortical BMD. Altogether, nine of 17 astronauts did not fully recover tibia total BMD after 12-months. Astronauts with incomplete recovery had higher biomarkers of bone turnover compared with astronauts whose bone recovered. Study findings suggest incomplete recovery of bone strength, density, and trabecular microarchitecture at the weight-bearing tibia, commensurate with a decade or more of terrestrial age-related bone loss.
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Vuelo Espacial , Tibia , Absorciometría de Fotón , Biomarcadores , Densidad Ósea , Huesos/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Masculino , Tibia/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
A venous thromboembolism (VTE) event occurred in a female astronaut during long-duration spaceflight. Multiple factors may have contributed to this risk, including the use of combined (progestin + estrogen) oral contraceptives (cOC). Biochemistry data from 65 astronauts were evaluated for associations with cOC use and with sex. The female astronauts who used cOCs had lower concentrations of serum albumin and higher concentrations of transferrin, a protein involved in the clotting cascade, than the male astronauts and the female astronauts who were not taking cOCs (P < 0.001). The women who used cOCs had higher serum concentrations of the acute phase reactant ceruloplasmin and cortisol during flight (P < 0.001) than the men and the women who were not taking cOCs; they also had higher calculated whole blood viscosity than women not taking cOCs (P < 0.001). Lower circulating concentrations of albumin, higher concentrations of transferrin, and elevated markers of inflammation all could contribute to an increased risk of VTE during spaceflight. These changes, in association with a higher blood viscosity, can directly affect endothelial glycocalyx integrity and hypercoagulability status, both of which contribute to VTE risk in terrestrial populations.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We report here evidence of an association between oral contraceptive use and serum albumin, among other factors, which potentially increase the risk of venous thromboembolism in astronauts. These findings highlight potential risks to astronaut health while providing potential alternative countermeasures for decreasing VTE risk during spaceflight. These findings also highlight an underrecognized potential mechanism for hypoalbuminemia to increase VTE risk in terrestrial populations.
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Tromboembolia Venosa , Astronautas , Anticonceptivos Orales Combinados/efectos adversos , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Factores de Riesgo , Albúmina Sérica , Transferrinas , Tromboembolia Venosa/inducido químicamenteRESUMEN
Human alpha herpesviruses herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) establish latency in various cranial nerve ganglia and often reactivate in response to stress-associated immune system dysregulation. Reactivation of Epstein Barr virus (EBV), VZV, HSV-1, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) is typically asymptomatic during spaceflight, though live/infectious virus has been recovered and the shedding rate increases with mission duration. The risk of clinical disease, therefore, may increase for astronauts assigned to extended missions (>180 days). Here, we report, for the first time, a case of HSV-1 skin rash (dermatitis) occurring during long-duration spaceflight. The astronaut reported persistent dermatitis during flight, which was treated onboard with oral antihistamines and topical/oral steroids. No HSV-1 DNA was detected in 6-month pre-mission saliva samples, but on flight day 82, a saliva and rash swab both yielded 4.8 copies/ng DNA and 5.3 × 104 copies/ng DNA, respectively. Post-mission saliva samples continued to have a high infectious HSV-1 load (1.67 × 107 copies/ng DNA). HSV-1 from both rash and saliva samples had 99.9% genotype homology. Additional physiological monitoring, including stress biomarkers (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and salivary amylase), immune markers (adaptive regulatory and inflammatory plasma cytokines), and biochemical profile markers, including vitamin/mineral status and bone metabolism, are also presented for this case. These data highlight an atypical presentation of HSV-1 during spaceflight and underscore the importance of viral screening during clinical evaluations of in-flight dermatitis to determine viral etiology and guide treatment.
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Dermatitis , Infecciones por Virus de Epstein-Barr , Exantema , Herpes Simple , Infecciones por Herpesviridae , Herpesvirus Humano 1 , Vuelo Espacial , Virus no Clasificados , Virus , Biomarcadores , ADN Viral/análisis , Herpes Simple/etiología , Herpesvirus Humano 3/fisiología , Herpesvirus Humano 4 , Humanos , Activación ViralRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Bone loss remains a primary health concern for astronauts, despite in-flight exercise. We examined changes in bone microarchitecture, density and strength before and after long-duration spaceflight in relation to biochemical markers of bone turnover and exercise. METHODS: Seventeen astronauts had their distal tibiae and radii imaged before and after space missions to the International Space Station using high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT. We estimated bone strength using finite element analysis and acquired blood and urine biochemical markers of bone turnover before, during and after spaceflight. Pre-flight exercise history and in-flight exercise logs were obtained. Mixed effects models examined changes in bone and biochemical variables and their relationship with mission duration and exercise. RESULTS: At the distal tibia, median cumulative losses after spaceflight were -2.9% to -4.3% for bone strength and total volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and -0.8% to -2.6% for trabecular vBMD, bone volume fraction, thickness and cortical vBMD. Mission duration (range 3.5-7 months) significantly predicted bone loss and crewmembers with higher concentrations of biomarkers of bone turnover before spaceflight experienced greater losses in tibia bone strength and density. Lower body resistance training volume (repetitions per week) increased 3-6 times in-flight compared with pre-spaceflight. Increases in training volume predicted preservation of tibia bone strength and trabecular vBMD and thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the fundamental relationship between mission duration and bone loss. Pre-flight markers of bone turnover and exercise history may identify crewmembers at greatest risk of bone loss due to unloading and may focus preventative measures.
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Vuelo Espacial , Composición Corporal , Densidad Ósea , Huesos , Ejercicio Físico , HumanosRESUMEN
Long-duration spaceflight is known to cause immune dysregulation in astronauts. Biomarkers of immune system function are needed to determine both the need for and effectiveness of potential immune countermeasures for astronauts. Whereas plasma cytokine concentrations are a well-established biomarker of immune status, salivary cytokine concentrations are emerging as a sensitive indicator of stress and inflammation. For this study, to aid in characterizing immune dysregulation during spaceflight, plasma and saliva cytokines were monitored in astronauts before, during and after long-duration spaceflight onboard the International Space Station. Blood was collected from 13 astronauts at 3 timepoints before, 5 timepoints during and 3 timepoints after spaceflight. Saliva was collected from 6 astronauts at 2 timepoints before spaceflight, 2 timepoints during and 3 timepoints following spaceflight. Samples were analyzed using multiplex array technology. Significant increases in the plasma concentration of IL-3, IL-15, IL-12p40, IFN-α2, and IL-7 were observed during spaceflight compared to before flight baseline. Significant decreases in saliva GM-CSF, IL-12p70, IL-10 and IL-13 were also observed during spaceflight as compared to compared to before flight baseline concentrations. Additionally, plasma TGFß1 and TGFß2 concentrations tended to be consistently higher during spaceflight, although these did not reach statistical significance. Overall, the findings confirm an in-vivo hormonal dysregulation of immunity, appearing pro-inflammatory and Th1 in nature, persists during long-duration orbital spaceflight. These biomarkers may therefore have utility for monitoring the effectiveness of biomedical countermeasures for astronauts, with potential application in terrestrial research and medicine.
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Citocinas/análisis , Hormonas/inmunología , Saliva/química , Vuelo Espacial , Estrés Fisiológico/inmunología , Astronautas , Biomarcadores/análisis , Femenino , Humanos , Inmunidad Innata , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
AbstractINTRODUCTION: For over 50 yr, investigators have studied the physiological adaptations of the human system during short- and long-duration spaceflight exposures. Much of the knowledge gained in developing health countermeasures for astronauts onboard the International Space Station demonstrate terrestrial applications. To date, a systematic process for translating these space applications to terrestrial human health has yet to be defined.METHODS: In the summer of 2017, a team of 38 international scientists launched the Bellagio ll Summit Initiative. The goals of the Summit were: 1) To identify space medicine findings and countermeasures with highest probability for future terrestrial applications; and 2) To develop a roadmap for translation of these countermeasures to future terrestrial application. The team reviewed public domain literature, NASA databases, and evidence books within the framework of the five-stage National Institutes of Health (NIH) translation science model, and the NASA two-stage translation model. Teams then analyzed and discussed interdisciplinary findings to determine the most significant evidence-based countermeasures sufficiently developed for terrestrial application.RESULTS: Teams identified published human spaceflight research and applied translational science models to define mature products for terrestrial clinical practice.CONCLUSIONS: The Bellagio ll Summit identified a snapshot of space medicine research and mature science with the highest probability of translation and developed a Roadmap of terrestrial application from space medicine-derived countermeasures. These evidence-based findings can provide guidance regarding the terrestrial applications of best practices, countermeasures, and clinical protocols currently used in spaceflight.Sides MB, Johnston SL III, Sirek A, Lee PH, Blue RS, Antonsen EL, Basner M, Douglas GL, Epstein A, Flynn-Evans EE, Gallagher MB, Hayes J, Lee SMC, Lockley SW, Monseur B, Nelson NG, Sargsyan A, Smith SM, Stenger MB, Stepanek J, Zwart SR; Bellagio II Team. Bellagio II report: terrestrial applications of space medicine research. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(8):650669.