A new search for another way to affect space flights on the human body, as a study of samples transported on 4 missions of SpaceX to the International Space Station to re -supply supply showed that traveling to space speeds up the aging of the stem cells that constitute blood necessary for blood and immune system.
In the study funded by the American Aviation and Space Administration (NASA), the scientists monitored the stem cells taken from the bone marrow donors to follow up the changes that occurred during the missions that lasted from 30 to 45 days in December 2021 and July 2022 and November 2022 and March 2023. They themselves.
It turns out that the cells sent to space lost some of their ability to form healthy new cells, and they became more vulnerable to DNA damage, and showed evidence of faster aging in the ends of chromosomes, which resemble the wrapped strands and carry genetic information from one cell to another.
The researchers attributed these changes to semi -numbness and increased radiation exposure during space trips.
Stem cells are cells inside the body that can develop into different types of cells.
The cells that have undergone the study, which are called the stem cells that make up blood and Salafi cells, produce all blood cells in the bone marrow, those soft tissues inside the bones, which include red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that represent part of the immune system and fight infection, and platelets that clot blood.
The functional imbalance in these cells can reduce the body’s ability to repair damaged tissues, reduce the monitoring of the immune system to monitor cancer, reduce the ability to fight infection and reduce the years of a person’s life.
The researchers say that the cells are excessive activity during space trips, which leads to the depletion of their reserves and their ability to rest and recover, a feature that allows the stem cells to renew over time.
Metochondria
Signs of inflammation and fatigue also appeared on the samples inside the mitochondria (nematoid granules), which generate energy in the cell, and began to activate hidden sections of the genome that remain a calm habit to maintain stability.
The researchers in the study, published this month in the journal “Steim Sil”, found differences in the way the stem cells respond to travel to space depending on the donor.
“The capacity of the stem cells has diminished, but with some contrast between the bone marrow donors, which indicates that the factors of the ability to face aging are active in the stem cells of some individuals and not others,” said Dr. Katriona Jimson, a professor at the University of California Medical College, San Diego and Director of the Sanford Institute of Stem Cells at the university and the head of the study.
Contrary to what is happening on Earth, where the atmosphere and the magnetic field of the planet provides a protective shield of cosmic rays, astronauts are exposed to high -energy radiation that permeates the universe.
This can lead to DNA damage, increased risk of cancer, nerve degenerative effects, cardiovascular problems and immune system imbalance. In addition, microvitmbly conditions in space can lead to the loss of bone density and muscle atrophy within other repercussions.
Jameson said that understanding the changes in the blood -forming stem cells could help direct the ways to protect astronauts from these repercussions during long -term missions.
“We discovered major ingredients for human stem cell flexibility that can be strengthened before, during and after space trips,” she added, adding that researchers are studying them during a mission to re -supply the space station with supplies launched by SpaceX last month.