Accelerated aging of human stem cells found in space, study indicates
In a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Cell Stem Cell, researchers from the University Hospital Cologne (Uniklinik Köln) have uncovered significant changes in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) following exposure to spaceflight conditions. The research, conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in September 20XX, utilised AI-powered imaging tools to monitor the cells during their 32-day to 45-day stay on the space station.
The study revealed that HSPCs, which are responsible for the production of blood cells, showed signs of accelerated aging after spaceflight. These changes included increased activity, decreased ability to recover and regenerate, and more stress and inflammation inside the cells' mitochondria.
One of the most concerning findings was that the HSPCs lost some of their ability to make healthy new cells, and became more prone to DNA damage. Signs of molecular wear and tear, such as DNA damage and shorter chromosome ends, became more pronounced in the exposed HSPCs. These changes mirror those seen in human aging and diseases like cancer on Earth.
The ISS was the location of choice for this study, as the university has conducted 17 missions to the space station and plans for more missions focused on HSPCs. SpaceX commercial resupply missions transported the HSPCs to the ISS for this research.
UC San Diego, another institute involved in the study, plans future ISS missions and astronaut studies, including real-time monitoring of molecular changes and countermeasures. Understanding these changes can help model human aging and diseases like cancer on Earth, and could pave the way for future space travel and human health.
Read also:
- Honoring Ayurveda Day 2024: Tapping into the Power of AYUSH for Worldwide Wellbeing
- casesof West Nile virus resulting in fatalities in Greece, with seven individuals confirmed to have succumbed to the disease
- Nutrient-Packed Wonders: Why Sardines Deserve Respect for Their Health Benefits
- Assessing the Importance: Deciphering the Meaning Behind an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Diagnostic Examination
