Ever since Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin first landed on the moon in 1969, the technology surrounding human space travel has skyrocketed. Resultantly, many researchers have begun to study the impact of microgravity on the human body, specifically on human cells and organs. Microgravity refers to a state of extremely low gravitational force that exists in outer space. Microgravity provides a feeling of “weightlessness”. On Earth, this can be simulated using a microgravity simulator, which astronauts use to prepare for space flights. Microgravity has been shown to alter human anatomy and physiology; therefore, it is important to investigate and understand these changes to anticipate the health impacts of future human space travel.
Astronauts use microgravity simulators to prepare for space flight.
Image Source: Smith Collection/Gado
Research on the effects of microgravity in humans can be performed by sending harvested cells to space, or by simulating microgravity on the ground. In humans, simulated microgravity has been shown to disrupt iron metabolism, brain function, red blood cell counts, amongst a multitude of physiological changes. Long term space travel especially has been shown to be detrimental to human health. Some of these changes can be currently attributed to alterations in function of specific cell populations. For instance, one study found that simulated microgravity affected a specific pathway that stopped bone cells from dividing. Other studies have also used cancer cell lines as the primary method of study, identifying similar findings that there are alterations in cell division.
Researchers have been using isolated cell lines to study the impact of microgravity on cellular function.
Image Source: Bloomberg
Even though they may seem to be two unrelated areas, there has been a plethora of research studying cancer cells in microgravity environments. In lab-controlled cancer cells, microgravity has been shown to induce cell death and also cause many other changes in the way cancer cells move, are regulated, and differentiate. Using microgravity creates an environment in which cancer cells are adversely affected, making it useful to study as opposed to regular gravity situations. Therefore, outside of space travel, microgravity poses a possible model to better study cancer cells, such that we can better identify the mechanisms of cancer cell generation, degeneration, and how to target those cells clinically to stop cancer growth. It’s clear that microgravity research is just in the early phases, and there is still much to learn about how the human body reacts to microgravity exposure.
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