Human stem cells become exhausted and age much faster in space, new research has discovered. This is a problem for those who want to travel long distances through our solar system.
Scientists used artificial intelligence (AI) to track changes in stem cells fed to the International Space Station (ISS) through the SpaceX supply mission. In space, stem cells lost some of their ability to produce new cells, became more susceptible to DNA damage, and aging faster.
The findings, published September 4th in the Journal Cell Stem Cell, build on previous space health research that underscores the challenge of putting people in space over the long term.
“Space is the ultimate stress test for the human body,” the study from Catriona Jamieson, director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, said in a statement. “These findings are extremely important because they show that spatial stressors like microgravity and cosmic galaxy radiation can accelerate molecular aging of blood stem cells.”
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The human body is not made for space use. There, our species are exposed to completely different environmental strains. Two notable, harmful stressors are microgravity and almost completely zero gravity of cosmic radiation. Small subatomic particles that zoom in space.
Previous research has documented that humans experience a variety of negative effects in the universe. For example, a 2022 study found that astronauts suffered decades of bone loss by spending more than six months in orbit. And scientists suggest that colonial Mars may require DNA adjustments to help our bodies deal with life away from our home planets.
In a new study, researchers looked at hematopoietic stems and progenitor cells, or HSPCs. These cells regulate immune system health and cancer immune surveillance. Previous studies have shown that exposure to microgravity can affect immune and metabolic changes, but this study does not show how time in space affects the molecular integrity and functional capacity of HSPCs.
The team obtained human cells from the bone marrow of consenting individuals undergoing hip replacement before growing cells in a nanobioreactor, a type of container that can promote biological responses. Researchers conducted experiments on four missions to the Earth and the ISS.
Scientists monitor cell activity using AI-powered imaging tools and found that cellular changes in spatial samples were similar to those seen in normal cell senescence on Earth, but occurred at a rate of acceleration. For example, cells were more active than normal and had lost the ability to rest and recover. The researchers also observed more activity in some of the “dark genomes.” This is because studies showed that areas of the genome associated with stress responses and aging were not well understood.
The findings of this research paint ominous pictures for long-term space travel, but they are silver lining. The damage seen in the cells began to reverse when placed in a young, healthy tissue environment. The statement suggests that this recovery is possible to rejuvenate senescent cells.
Cellular changes and accelerated aging documented in new research could help researchers better protect their time in space.
“Understanding these changes will not only inform you of how to protect astronauts during long-term missions, but it will also help you model human aging and diseases like cancer on Earth,” Jamieson said. “This is important knowledge as we enter a new era of commercial space travel and research in low-Earth orbit.”
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