Life Sciences in Space Research最新文献

3D culture and cryopreservation/thawing strategy of human induced pluripotent stem cells for spaceflight experiments 用于航天实验的人诱导多能干细胞的三维培养和低温保存/解冻策略

IF 2.8 3区生物学 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Life Sciences in Space Research

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.08.002

Jingtong Xie , Chiyuan Ma , Yanbang Wei , Junyi Luo , Yongfan Men , Linjun Wang , Yue Xiong , Weibo Zheng , Xiaohua Lei

Background

Although current space-based cell biology experiments predominantly rely on two-dimensional (2D) culture systems combined with in-orbit chemical fixation protocols, the development of a stem cell three-dimensional (3D) culture strategy with integrated long-term cryopreservation capabilities remains a significant technical challenge in space.

Aim

To design 3D culture, cryopreservation, and thawing methods of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) suitable for spaceflight experiments.

Methods

A biocompatible PDMS material was utilized to construct a porous 3D culture chamber, which was combined with VitroGel ® Hydrogel Matrix for hiPSCs 3D culture. An automated culture module system was validated, integrating cell culture, imaging, perfusion of cryoprotectant, -80 °C freezing, and thawing processes. Ground-based matching experiments were conducted to confirm the stability of the culture chamber, its mechanical tolerance, and the compatibility of the entire process.

Results

The developed 3D culture system successfully supported the stable growth of hiPSCs and maintained pluripotency in space cell culture units. Both cells and culture chambers demonstrated tolerance to mechanical vibration stress. The established cryopreservation method enabled the direct long-term storage of 3D stem cell spheroids from culture boxes in a -80 °C freezer, achieving a cell survival rate exceeding 85% after thawing. Module-level end-to-end matching experimental confirmed that the 3D culture system established in this study supports cell growth, imaging, medium exchange, fixation, and cryopreservation.

Conclusion

The 3D growth and cryopreservation system developed in this study is highly reliable and adaptable to the conditions of the Chinese Space Station. It is capable of supporting research on the 3D growth of hiPSCs both in space and post-flight on Earth.

尽管目前的太空细胞生物学实验主要依赖于结合在轨化学固定方案的二维（2D）培养系统，但开发具有综合长期冷冻保存能力的干细胞三维（3D）培养策略仍然是太空中的一个重大技术挑战。目的设计适合航天实验的人诱导多能干细胞（hiPSCs）的三维培养、低温保存和解冻方法。方法采用具有生物相容性的PDMS材料构建多孔三维培养室，结合VitroGel®水凝胶基质进行hiPSCs的三维培养。验证了自动化培养模块系统，该系统集成了细胞培养、成像、冷冻保护剂灌注、-80°C冷冻和解冻过程。进行了地面匹配实验，以确认培养室的稳定性、机械公差和整个过程的相容性。结果所建立的三维培养系统成功地支持了hiPSCs的稳定生长，并在空间细胞培养单元中保持了多能性。细胞和培养室均表现出对机械振动应力的耐受性。所建立的冷冻保存方法能够将培养箱中的3D干细胞球体直接长期保存在-80°C的冰箱中，解冻后的细胞存活率超过85%。模块级端到端匹配实验证实，本研究建立的三维培养体系支持细胞生长、成像、介质交换、固定和冷冻保存。结论本研究开发的三维生长和低温保存系统具有较高的可靠性和适应性，能够适应中国空间站的环境。它能够支持hipsc在太空和飞行后在地球上的3D生长研究。

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引用次数: 0

Protective effects of compound Gastrodia elata formula on the cognitive impairment induced by simulated weightlessness in mice 复方天麻方对模拟失重致小鼠认知功能损伤的保护作用

IF 2.8 3区生物学 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Life Sciences in Space Research

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.08.004

Fang Chen , Ning Jiang , Muhammad Noman Khan , Yiwen Zhang , Muhammad Zulqarnain Shakir , Guyue Zhou , Chenlu Xia , Yanfei Xu , Guanghua Lv , Mengzhou Xie , Xinmin Liu

Growing evidence highlights that long-term orbital flight may lead to structural changes in brains and cognitive impairments in astronauts. However, effective strategies to counteract these effects remain limited. Compound Gastrodia elata Formula (CGEF), composed of Gastrodia elata Bl., Polygonatum sibirium Red., and Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf has been shown to improve learning and memory. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects and underlying mechanisms of CGEF in attenuating cognitive deficiency induced by simulated weightlessness in mice. A cognitive impairment model was induced in mice using Hindlimb unloading (HU) method. Cognitive function was assessed through Object recognition test (ORT), the Morris water maze (MWM), and the Step-down Test (SDT). Serum and hippocampus levels of inflammatory markers, including Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were evaluated using ELISA. Neurotransmitter concentrations in the hippocampus and cortex were measured using LC-MS/MS. While Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) / Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) protein expression signaling pathway in hippocampus was evaluated by western blot. Results showed that CGEF treatment significantly reversed the memory deficits induced by four weeks of HU exposure. Furthermore, CGEF treatment markedly suppressed the production of inflammatory factors. It also assisted in the recovery of neurotransmitter balance and regulated tryptophan metabolism to improve cognitive disorder. Western blotting analysis revealed that CGEF treatment upregulated the expression of Synaptophysin, Postsynaptic density 95 proteins, while also activating the brain-derived neurotrophic factor-Tropomyosin receptor kinase B pathway. These findings suggest that CGEF has substantial potential for development as an aerospace health product to improve memory decline associated with spaceflight.

越来越多的证据表明，长期的轨道飞行可能会导致宇航员大脑的结构变化和认知障碍。然而，对抗这些影响的有效策略仍然有限。复方天麻配方（CGEF），由天麻、黄精组成。和茯苓（Poria cocos）。狼被证明可以提高学习和记忆力。本研究旨在探讨CGEF对小鼠模拟失重引起的认知缺陷的影响及其机制。采用后肢卸荷法建立小鼠认知功能障碍模型。通过物体识别测试（ORT）、Morris水迷宫（MWM）和降压测试（SDT）评估认知功能。采用ELISA法检测血清及海马区炎症标志物白介素-1β (IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子α (TNF-α)、白细胞介素-6 （IL-6）水平。采用LC-MS/MS法测定海马和皮层神经递质浓度。western blot检测海马脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF) /原肌球蛋白受体激酶B （TrkB）蛋白表达信号通路。结果表明，CGEF治疗显著逆转了4周HU暴露引起的记忆缺陷。此外，CGEF治疗显著抑制炎症因子的产生。它还有助于恢复神经递质平衡，调节色氨酸代谢，改善认知障碍。Western blotting分析显示，CGEF处理可上调Synaptophysin、突触后密度95蛋白的表达，同时激活脑源性神经营养因子-原肌球蛋白受体激酶B通路。这些发现表明，CGEF作为一种航空航天保健产品具有很大的发展潜力，可以改善与航天飞行相关的记忆衰退。

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引用次数: 0

Pinoresinol diglucoside alleviates hindlimb unloading-induced bone loss in mice 松脂醇二葡糖苷减轻小鼠后肢卸荷所致的骨质流失

IF 2.8 3区生物学 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Life Sciences in Space Research

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.08.006

Ying-Ying Xuan , Liang Li , Yi Wu , Zhen-Long Wei , Mei Zhang , Min-Na Liu , Dong-Shuai Shen , Yu-Hai Gao , Cory J Xian , Hui-Ping Ma , Ke-Ming Chen

Microgravity-induced bone loss has long been a critical issue in space exploration. While countermeasures have been suggested, none have achieved the desired effects. Pinoresinol diglucoside (PDG), an effective constituent of the medicinal herb Eucommia ulmoidis Oliv, was reported to increase peak bone mass in growing rats and mitigate dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis. However, it is unknown if it affects microgravity-induced bone loss. Here, PDG effects were investigated in cultured rat calvarial osteoblasts exposed to simulated microgravity (SMG) and in hindlimb-unloaded mice. PDG (1 × 10⁶ mol/L) prevented SMG-induced osteoblast osteogenesis reduction and oxidative stress (increased levels of oxidative markers and decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes). It alleviated cell proliferation suppression, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In hindlimb-suspended mice orally administrated with PDG for 21 days, unloading-induced reduction of femoral bone mineral density, deterioration of bone microstructure and strength, and reduction of osteogenic potential of bone marrow stromal cells were significantly reversed at three dosages tested. It alleviated unloading-induced bone loss (decreased serum bone formation marker but increased resorption marker levels), osteocyte apoptosis (changes in TUNEL staining and apoptosis marker expression), oxidative damages (increased serum 8-isoPGF2α and 8-OHdG levels), inflammation (increased serum inflammatory cytokine levels), and increased bone resorption signal (bone and serum RANKL/OPG expression ratio). These results demonstrated that PDG effectively counteracted hindlimb unloading-induced bone loss by inhibiting osteocyte apoptosis, preventing oxidative stress and inflammation, preserving bone formation and inhibiting resorption. PDG is a good candidate to be further tested for its potential use in preventing spaceflight-induced bone loss and disuse osteoporosis.

长期以来，微重力导致的骨质流失一直是太空探索中的关键问题。虽然提出了对策，但没有一个达到预期的效果。松脂醇二葡糖苷（PDG）是杜仲的一种有效成分，据报道可以增加生长大鼠的峰值骨量，减轻地米松引起的骨质疏松症。然而，尚不清楚它是否会影响微重力诱导的骨质流失。本研究研究了PDG对模拟微重力（SMG）下培养的大鼠颅骨成骨细胞和后肢卸车小鼠的影响。PDG （1 × 106 mol/L）可抑制smg诱导的成骨细胞成骨减少和氧化应激（氧化标志物水平升高，抗氧化酶活性降低）。减轻了细胞增殖抑制、细胞凋亡和细胞周期阻滞。在后肢悬吊小鼠中口服PDG 21 d后，三种剂量的小鼠股骨骨密度下降、骨微结构和强度恶化以及骨髓基质细胞成骨潜能降低均明显逆转。它减轻了骨质疏松（血清骨形成标志物降低，但骨吸收标志物水平升高）、骨细胞凋亡（TUNEL染色和细胞凋亡标志物表达改变）、氧化损伤（血清8-isoPGF2α和8-OHdG水平升高）、炎症（血清炎症细胞因子水平升高）和骨吸收信号（骨和血清RANKL/OPG表达比）升高。这些结果表明，PDG通过抑制骨细胞凋亡、防止氧化应激和炎症、保护骨形成和抑制骨吸收，有效地抵消了后肢卸载引起的骨丢失。PDG在预防太空飞行引起的骨质流失和废用性骨质疏松症方面的潜在用途有待进一步测试。

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引用次数: 0

Human umbilical cord MSC-derived exosomes attenuate radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis via remodeling the gut-lung axis in mice 人脐带间充质干细胞衍生的外泌体通过重塑小鼠肠-肺轴来减弱辐射诱导的肺纤维化

IF 2.8 3区生物学 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Life Sciences in Space Research

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.011

Yan Zhou , Haonan Wang , Ling Guo , Xiaodie Liu , Xing Wang , Yue Liu , Mengjuan Shang , Bo Zheng , Kewei Li , Lin Liu , Jing Li , Guirong Ding

Objective

To investigate whether human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hUC-MSC-Exos) attenuate radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) through modulation of the gut-lung axis.

Methods

The therapeutic efficacy of hUC-MSC-Exos was evaluated in a mouse model of RIPF through histopathology and western blot analysis of fibrosis markers (α-SMA, Vimentin, and E-cadherin). Gut barrier integrity (ZO-1, Occludin) and intestinal inflammation (IL-6, IL-1β) were examined using immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and ELISA. Gut microbial composition and metabolic profiles were characterized via metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics, followed by integrated bioinformatics analyses to identify key pathways and metabolites.

Results

hUC-MSC-Exos significantly reduced pulmonary collagen deposition and restored fibrosis markers expression, concomitant with enhanced gut barrier function and attenuated intestinal inflammation. Multi-omics analysis revealed restoration of gut microbiota homeostasis and metabolic reprogramming, with the alanine, aspartate, and glutamate pathway being notably co-regulated. L-Glutamic acid was the most significantly altered metabolite and correlated significantly positively with the severity of pulmonary fibrosis and gut dysfunction. Gut microbiota associated with L-Glutamic acid (e.g., Duncaniella, Ruminococcus) were also significantly restructured.

Conclusions

hUC-MSC-Exos attenuate RIPF through a comprehensive remodeling of the gut–lung axis, in which L-Glutamic acid and its associated microbiota serve as potential mediators. These findings highlight the gut–lung axis as a promising therapeutic target for RIPF.

目的探讨人脐带间充质干细胞源性外泌体（hUC-MSC-Exos）是否通过调节肠-肺轴来减弱辐射诱导的肺纤维化（RIPF）。方法通过组织病理学和α-SMA、Vimentin、E-cadherin等纤维化标志物的western blot分析，评价hUC-MSC-Exos对RIPF小鼠模型的治疗效果。采用免疫组织化学、RT-qPCR和ELISA检测肠道屏障完整性（ZO-1、Occludin）和肠道炎症（IL-6、IL-1β）。通过宏基因组学和非靶向代谢组学对肠道微生物组成和代谢谱进行了表征，随后进行了综合生物信息学分析，以确定关键途径和代谢物。结果uc - msc - exos显著减少肺胶原沉积，恢复纤维化标志物表达，同时增强肠道屏障功能，减轻肠道炎症。多组学分析显示，肠道微生物群稳态和代谢重编程的恢复，丙氨酸、天冬氨酸和谷氨酸途径被显著地共同调节。l -谷氨酸是改变最显著的代谢物，与肺纤维化和肠道功能障碍的严重程度呈显著正相关。与l -谷氨酸相关的肠道微生物群（如Duncaniella， Ruminococcus）也显著重组。结论shucc - msc - exos通过肠-肺轴的全面重塑来减弱RIPF，其中l -谷氨酸及其相关微生物群可能是潜在的介质。这些发现强调了肠-肺轴作为RIPF的一个有希望的治疗靶点。

{"title":"Human umbilical cord MSC-derived exosomes attenuate radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis via remodeling the gut-lung axis in mice","authors":"Yan Zhou , Haonan Wang , Ling Guo , Xiaodie Liu , Xing Wang , Yue Liu , Mengjuan Shang , Bo Zheng , Kewei Li , Lin Liu , Jing Li , Guirong Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To investigate whether human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hUC-MSC-Exos) attenuate radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) through modulation of the gut-lung axis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The therapeutic efficacy of hUC-MSC-Exos was evaluated in a mouse model of RIPF through histopathology and western blot analysis of fibrosis markers (α-SMA, Vimentin, and E-cadherin). Gut barrier integrity (ZO-1, Occludin) and intestinal inflammation (IL-6, IL-1β) were examined using immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and ELISA. Gut microbial composition and metabolic profiles were characterized via metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics, followed by integrated bioinformatics analyses to identify key pathways and metabolites.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>hUC-MSC-Exos significantly reduced pulmonary collagen deposition and restored fibrosis markers expression, concomitant with enhanced gut barrier function and attenuated intestinal inflammation. Multi-omics analysis revealed restoration of gut microbiota homeostasis and metabolic reprogramming, with the alanine, aspartate, and glutamate pathway being notably co-regulated. L-Glutamic acid was the most significantly altered metabolite and correlated significantly positively with the severity of pulmonary fibrosis and gut dysfunction. Gut microbiota associated with L-Glutamic acid (e.g., <em>Duncaniella, Ruminococcus</em>) were also significantly restructured.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>hUC-MSC-Exos attenuate RIPF through a comprehensive remodeling of the gut–lung axis, in which L-Glutamic acid and its associated microbiota serve as potential mediators. These findings highlight the gut–lung axis as a promising therapeutic target for RIPF.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 204-215"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Short-term 6° head-down tilt bed rest simulating microgravity ameliorates blood pressure and heart rate variability: A quasi-experimental study on healthy adults 模拟微重力的短期6°头向下倾斜床休息可改善健康成人的血压和心率变异性：一项准实验研究

IF 2.8 3区生物学 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Life Sciences in Space Research

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.014

Chayan Kundu , Samriddha Sharma , Tandra Ghosh , Kishore K. Deepak , Arnab Das

As humanity ventures into space exploration, understanding the physiological effects of microgravity becomes increasingly important. Beyond its relevance to astronaut health, the application of altered gravity is gaining attention in clinical and sports settings. While most studies have explored long-term adaptive changes to microgravity, the acute effect of short-term microgravity exposure on hemodynamics and cardiac autonomic function still remains unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of 30 min 6° head-down tilt (HDT) bed rest simulating microgravity on blood pressure (BP) and cardiac autonomic functions. In this open-label quasi-experimental study, 27 healthy males (aged 18–35 years), selected from an initial pool of 45, were enrolled and divided into control (n = 13, seated rest) and 6° HDT (n = 14) groups. Pre- and post-intervention BP and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed and paired t-tests were done. The 6° HDT for 30 min showed a significant decrease in SBP (−5.06 %; p < 0.01; d = 0.82) and MAP (−5.06 %; p < 0.05; d = 0.72), with no significant changes in control group. Significant increase in mean RR (4.02 %; d = 0.22), pNN50% (15.71 %; d = 0.14), HRVTi (26.52 %; d = 0.51), and HF power (11.64 %; p < 0.05), along with significant decrease in HR (-5.23 %; d = 0.30) and stress index (-21.6 %; d = 0.49) were also observed post-6° HDT (p < 0.05), indicating enhanced parasympathetic modulation. After applying the FDR correction, only SD2 (FDR_corrected p = 0.004) and SDNN (FDR_corrected p = 0.008) maintained statistical significance in the HDT group, whereas no parameters in the control group achieved statistical significance. No significant changes were observed in LF power and LF/HF ratio in both the groups. Therefore, 30 min of 6° HDT exposure elicited a stronger parasympathetic response. Beyond astronauts’ health, these findings may offer therapeutic insights for populations prone to autonomic dysfunction, including the elderly, immobilized patients, and those at risk of orthostatic intolerance.

随着人类冒险进入太空探索，了解微重力的生理影响变得越来越重要。除了与宇航员健康相关外，改变重力的应用在临床和运动环境中也越来越受到关注。虽然大多数研究都探讨了长期适应微重力的变化，但短期微重力暴露对血液动力学和心脏自主功能的急性影响仍未得到探讨。因此，本研究旨在探讨模拟微重力30分钟6°俯卧（HDT）卧床对血压（BP）和心脏自主功能的影响。在这项开放标签准实验研究中，27名健康男性（18-35岁）从最初的45名人群中选择，并被分为对照组（n = 13，坐式休息）和6°HDT组（n = 14）。评估干预前和干预后的血压和心率变异性（HRV），并进行配对t检验。6°HDT治疗30 min后，收缩压（- 5.06%;p < 0.01; d = 0.82）和MAP （- 5.06%; p < 0.05; d = 0.72）显著降低，对照组无显著变化。6°HDT后，平均RR （4.02%, d = 0.22）、pNN50% （15.71%, d = 0.14）、HRVTi （26.52%, d = 0.51）、HF功率（11.64%,p < 0.05）显著升高，HR （- 5.23%, d = 0.30）和应激指数（- 21.6%,d = 0.49）显著降低（p < 0.05），表明副交感神经调节增强。应用FDR校正后，HDT组只有SD2 （FDRcorrected p = 0.004）和SDNN （FDRcorrected p = 0.008）保持统计学意义，而对照组各参数均无统计学意义。两组患者LF功率及LF/HF比值均无明显变化。因此，30分钟的6°HDT暴露引发了更强的副交感神经反应。除了宇航员的健康之外，这些发现可能为容易出现自主神经功能障碍的人群提供治疗见解，包括老年人、不能活动的患者和有直立不耐受风险的人。

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引用次数: 0

Comprehensive omics strategies for space agriculture development 空间农业发展的综合组学战略

IF 2.8 3区生物学 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Life Sciences in Space Research

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.007

Yodying Yingchutrakul , Tatpong Tulyananda , Sucheewin Krobthong

Space agriculture is pivotal for sustaining long-duration space missions by providing fresh food, oxygen, and waste recycling capabilities. This review evaluates advanced omics strategies that elucidate how plants adapt to the extreme conditions encountered in space, such as microgravity, cosmic radiation, and limited nutrient convection. An integrated examination of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics reveals that spaceflight induces profound changes in plant molecular networks. Genomic studies have documented space-induced mutations and epigenetic modifications, while transcriptomic analyses consistently show differential expression of genes involved in stress responses, cell wall remodeling, and hormone signaling. Proteomic investigations complement these findings by uncovering alterations in protein abundance that underscore the activation of defense mechanisms and reorganization of metabolic pathways. Metabolomic and lipidomic profiling further indicate that plants reprogram energy metabolism and modify membrane composition to cope with oxidative stress and other abiotic challenges. The synthesis of multi-omics data provides a systems-level understanding of plant adaptation, guiding the selection and engineering of crop varieties optimized for space environments. Additionally, insights gained from spaceflight experiments inform the design of controlled-environment agriculture systems for both extraterrestrial habitats and terrestrial applications. Collectively, the integrated omics approach offers a robust framework for addressing the limitations of traditional methodologies, paving the way for sustainable, resilient plant production essential for future human exploration beyond Earth.

太空农业通过提供新鲜食物、氧气和废物回收能力，对维持长期太空任务至关重要。这篇综述评估了先进的组学策略，阐明了植物如何适应太空中遇到的极端条件，如微重力、宇宙辐射和有限的营养对流。基因组学、转录组学、蛋白质组学、代谢组学和脂质组学的综合研究表明，太空飞行诱导了植物分子网络的深刻变化。基因组学研究已经记录了空间诱导的突变和表观遗传修饰，而转录组学分析一致显示了参与应激反应、细胞壁重塑和激素信号传导的基因的差异表达。蛋白质组学研究通过揭示蛋白质丰度的变化来补充这些发现，这些变化强调了防御机制的激活和代谢途径的重组。代谢组学和脂质组学分析进一步表明，植物通过重编程能量代谢和修改膜组成来应对氧化应激和其他非生物挑战。多组学数据的综合提供了对植物适应性的系统级理解，指导了适应空间环境的作物品种的选择和工程设计。此外，从太空飞行实验中获得的见解为地外栖息地和地面应用的受控环境农业系统的设计提供了信息。总的来说，综合组学方法为解决传统方法的局限性提供了一个强大的框架，为可持续的、有弹性的植物生产铺平了道路，这对未来人类在地球以外的探索至关重要。

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引用次数: 0

Effects of the space environment and re-adaptation to Earth's gravity on astronauts' plasma proteome 太空环境和重新适应地球重力对宇航员血浆蛋白质组的影响

IF 2.8 3区生物学 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Life Sciences in Space Research

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.09.001

Kanokporn Rithidech , Rodrigo Mohallem , Uma K. Aryal , Tanat Peanlikhit , Brian Crucian

We performed a label-free quantitative plasma proteomic analysis on samples from eight astronauts who completed a 6-month mission aboard the International Space Station, using an Orbitrap Fusion Lumos mass spectrometer (MS). Blood samples were collected from each astronaut at different times, i.e., pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight. We found that the abundance levels of 16 proteins were significantly altered (p ≤ 0.05), particularly in the in-flight samples. The functions of these 16 proteins are associated with four major pathways that pose health risks to astronauts: impairment of the immune system, reorganization of the cytoskeleton, coagulation disorders, and abnormal metabolism. Following the spaceflight, the levels of certain proteins, such as Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H2 (ITIH2), returned to or close to their preflight levels. While the abundance levels of some proteins involved in the actin cytoskeleton (e.g., pleckstrin or PLEK) and coagulation (e.g., platelet glycoprotein 1b alpha chain or GP1BA) decreased, others such as Brain acid soluble protein 1 (BASP1) and Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 (IGFBP4) increased postflight. Although the mechanisms underlying the upregulation or downregulation of these proteins are not yet fully understood, they may play functional roles in response to spaceflight or in re-adjusting to Earth. This may impact cellular and tissue integrity as well as homeostasis, potentially leading to long-term health risks. Our findings have important implications for developing strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of spaceflight on human health.

我们使用Orbitrap Fusion Lumos质谱仪（MS）对在国际空间站完成6个月任务的8名宇航员的样本进行了无标记的定量血浆蛋白质组学分析。在飞行前、飞行中和飞行后的不同时间采集每位宇航员的血液样本。我们发现16种蛋白质的丰度水平显著改变（p≤0.05），特别是在飞行样品中。这16种蛋白质的功能与对宇航员构成健康风险的四种主要途径有关：免疫系统损伤、细胞骨架重组、凝血障碍和代谢异常。在太空飞行之后，某些蛋白质的水平，如载脂蛋白L1 （APOL1）和α -胰蛋白酶间抑制剂重链H2 (ITIH2)，恢复或接近其飞行前的水平。虽然一些参与肌动蛋白细胞骨架（如pleckstrin或PLEK）和凝血（如血小板糖蛋白1b α链或GP1BA）的蛋白丰度水平下降，但其他如脑酸可溶性蛋白1 （BASP1）和胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白4 （IGFBP4）在飞行后增加。虽然这些蛋白上调或下调的机制尚不完全清楚，但它们可能在应对太空飞行或重新适应地球方面发挥功能作用。这可能会影响细胞和组织的完整性以及体内平衡，潜在地导致长期健康风险。我们的发现对制定减轻航天对人类健康不利影响的战略具有重要意义。

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引用次数: 0

International space station external radiation field as measured by Liulin-SET spectrometer of ARMAS flight module 9 in September - October 2022 2022年9 - 10月ARMAS 9号飞行模块柳林- set光谱仪测量的国际空间站外辐射场

IF 2.8 3区生物学 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Life Sciences in Space Research

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.11.001

Tsvetan Dachev , W. Kent Tobiska , Borislav Tomov , Yuri Matviichuk , Plamen Dimitrov , Malina Jordanova , Mityo Mitev , Nikolay Bankov , Jordanka Semkova , Brad Gersey , Leonid Didkovsky , Kevin Judge , Seth Weiman , Ben Hogan , Justin Bailey

The Liulin-SET spectrometer, developed at the Space Research and Technology Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, was integrated with the Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety (ARMAS) Flight Module Number 9 (FM9). The ARMAS FM9 was developed by Space Environment Technologies (SET) in Pacific Palisades, California, USA. Inclusion of the abbreviation “SET” in the name of the instrument underlined that this spectrometer was developed especially for the Space Environment Technologies (SET) ARMAS FM9 mission.

ARMAS FM9 was launched on February 19, 2022 with the Northrop Grumman-Antares rocket from NASA's east coast launch facility in Virginia and operated externally on the Japanese Experimental Module of the International Space Station (ISS) for 216 days, from March to December 2022. During this period, it measured the ionizing dose and flux of three radiation components: (1) Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR), (2) Inner Radiation Belt (IRB) energetic protons in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region, (3) Outer Radiation Belt (ORB) energetic electrons in the high-latitude regions of the ISS orbit. This paper presents the analysis of the Liulin-SET data and compares it with data from other four Liulin type instruments that worked on the ISS between 2001 and 2016.

由保加利亚科学院空间研究和技术研究所开发的liolin - set光谱仪与航空航天安全自动辐射测量（ARMAS） 9号飞行模块（FM9）集成在一起。ARMAS FM9是由位于美国加利福尼亚州太平洋帕利塞德的空间环境技术公司（SET）开发的。仪器名称中包含缩写“SET”，强调该光谱仪是专门为空间环境技术（SET） ARMAS FM9任务开发的。ARMAS FM9于2022年2月19日由诺斯罗普·格鲁曼-安塔瑞斯火箭从美国宇航局位于弗吉尼亚州的东海岸发射设施发射，并于2022年3月至12月在国际空间站（ISS）的日本实验舱外部运行了216天。在此期间，它测量了三种辐射成分的电离剂量和通量：(1)银河宇宙射线（GCR），(2)南大西洋异常（SAA）区域内辐射带（IRB）高能质子，(3)国际空间站轨道高纬度区域外辐射带（ORB）高能电子。本文对柳林- set数据进行了分析，并将其与2001年至2016年间在国际空间站工作的其他四个柳林型仪器的数据进行了比较。

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引用次数: 0

Simulated Microgravity affects immune reaction to infection through altering lymphocyte differentiation, cytokine secretion, and macrophage polarization 模拟微重力通过改变淋巴细胞分化、细胞因子分泌和巨噬细胞极化影响对感染的免疫反应

IF 2.8 3区生物学 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Life Sciences in Space Research

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.004

Hongyan Cai , Rui Jia , Huimin Chen, Yingying Wu, Yaya Qin, Shaoyan Si, Lei Zhu, Xiaotong Lou, Xiangru Li

Microgravity is one of the most significant hazards during spaceflight, as prolonged exposure to the microgravity environment impairs the immune system and increases the risk of infection. Extensive research on the effects of microgravity on the immune system was conducted. However, the immune reaction to infection under microgravity remains unclear. In this study, we established a hindlimb unloading mouse model to simulate the effects of microgravity, and then lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation was administered to simulate infection. Transcriptomic profiling (RNA-seq) of blood cells revealed that simulated microgravity affected the immune response to infection. Before LPS stimulation, simulated microgravity significantly increased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and platelet count. Following LPS administration, time-course analysis showed that simulated microgravity altered the temporal dynamics of both lymphocyte subsets and cytokines. Peritoneal macrophage polarization analysis demonstrated that simulated microgravity inhibited M2 polarization both before and during the early stage of LPS stimulation. These findings indicate that simulated microgravity compromises immune function and dysregulates the immune response to infection through affecting lymphocyte differentiation, cytokine secretion, and macrophage polarization.

微重力是航天飞行中最严重的危害之一，因为长期暴露在微重力环境中会损害免疫系统，增加感染的风险。对微重力对免疫系统的影响进行了广泛的研究。然而，在微重力下对感染的免疫反应尚不清楚。本研究通过建立小鼠后肢卸荷模型模拟微重力作用，再通过脂多糖（LPS）刺激模拟感染。血细胞的转录组学分析（RNA-seq）显示，模拟微重力影响了对感染的免疫反应。在LPS刺激前，模拟微重力显著增加IL-1β、IL-6水平和血小板计数。LPS给药后，时间过程分析显示，模拟微重力改变了淋巴细胞亚群和细胞因子的时间动态。腹腔巨噬细胞极化分析表明，模拟微重力在LPS刺激前和早期均能抑制M2极化。这些发现表明，模拟微重力通过影响淋巴细胞分化、细胞因子分泌和巨噬细胞极化，损害免疫功能并失调对感染的免疫反应。

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引用次数: 0

Domestication of radiation sensitive Caenorhabditis Elegans strains suitable for liquid culture systems in long-term space mission 适合长期太空任务液体培养系统的辐射敏感秀丽隐杆线虫菌株的驯化

IF 2.8 3区生物学 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Life Sciences in Space Research

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.10.009

Shuqi Yuan , Wei Wang , Zheng Liang, Wei Fang, Yuanyuan Liu, Lei Zhao, Runtao Zhong, Yeqing Sun

With the continuous advancement of manned deep-space exploration, the need for effective radiation-risk assessment and protection is increasingly urgent. There is a need to screen space radiation-sensitive Caenorhabditis elegans strains suitable for long-term microfluidic chip-based cultivation and observation in space on orbit. In the study, green fluorescently protein-labeled nematode strains carrying stress-related genes (involved in stress response, DNA-damage, germ-cell apoptosis) were selected. Nematode strains that significantly responded to Co⁶⁰γ-ray radiation stimulation were screened and further domesticated using C. elegans Maintenance Medium (CeMM) liquid culture. Results indicated that under simulated γ-radiation (40 mSv), fluorescent proteins expression was significantly upregulated in TJ356 strain (marked by DAF-16) and CL2166 strain (marked by GST-4). Subsequently, single nematodes from TJ356 and CL2166—maintained in liquid medium for >30 days and successfully decontaminated—both retained radiosensitivity, exhibiting 1.27- and 2.73-fold fluorescence upregulation post-UVC irradiation (254 nm, 1400 J/m²). In CeMM, both strains reached adulthood with body lengths >500 μm and head thrashing frequencies ≥10 events/10 s, while TJ356 demonstrated more stable locomotor activity during prolonged cultivation. Average fluorescence intensity of TJ356 increased progressively with development and remained consistently above 30 arbitrary units (AU), while that of CL2166 decreased gradually but stayed above 10 AU. Multivariate evaluation identified TJ356 as the optimal radiation-sensitive strain. During the subsequent 33-day on-orbit cultivation experiment in the Chinese Space Station, the average body length of TJ356 nematodes in the flight group increased from 657.95 to 822.11 μm and showed 1.51–2.51-fold fluorescence elevation compared to ground control. The results confirm the space-environment sensitivity of TJ356 and its feasibility for long-term individual observation.

随着载人深空探测的不断推进，对有效的辐射风险评估与防护的需求日益迫切。有必要筛选适合于基于微流控芯片的长期空间培养和在轨空间观测的空间辐射敏感秀丽隐杆线虫菌株。在这项研究中，我们选择了绿色荧光蛋白标记的线虫菌株，这些菌株携带与应激相关的基因（参与应激反应、dna损伤和生殖细胞凋亡）。筛选了对co60 γ射线辐射刺激有显著响应的线虫菌株，并采用秀丽隐杆线虫维持培养基（C. elegans Maintenance Medium, CeMM）液体培养进行驯化。结果表明，在模拟γ辐射（40 mSv）下，TJ356菌株（DAF-16标记）和CL2166菌株（GST-4标记）的荧光蛋白表达显著上调。随后，来自TJ356和cl2166的单线虫——在液体培养基中维持了30天并成功去污——都保持了辐射敏感性，在uvc照射（254 nm, 1400 J/m²）后，荧光上调了1.27倍和2.73倍。在CeMM中，两株菌株均达到成年体长500 μm，头抖动频率≥10次/10 s，而TJ356在长时间培养中表现出更稳定的运动活动。TJ356的平均荧光强度随着发育逐渐增加，一直保持在30任意单位（AU）以上，而CL2166的平均荧光强度逐渐下降，但一直保持在10 AU以上。多因素评价结果表明，TJ356为最佳辐射敏感菌株。在随后的33天中国空间站在轨培养实验中，飞行组TJ356线虫的平均体长从657.95 μm增加到822.11 μm，荧光高程是地面对照组的1.51 - 2.51倍。结果证实了TJ356的空间环境敏感性和长期单独观测的可行性。

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引用次数: 0