Does Space Travel Damage the Powerhouse of the Cell?

Astronauts face a myriad of health risks when traveling in the vacuums of space. They often report loss of bone and muscle. Some even develop immune disorders, liver issues, or heart diseases. With many astronauts reporting the same symptoms, a new study suggests that damage to the powerhouse of the cells may be to blame for all the issues.

The findings could help guide future treatments for astronauts in long-distance voyages like trips to Mars or even further.

Mitochondria: Damaging the Powerhouse of the Cell

A recent study published in the journal Cell analyzed the largest cohort of data from astronauts. Utilizing multi-omics analysis in collaboration with NASA"s GeneLab, scientists determine that mitochondrial dysregulation may be the driving force of spaceflight health risks.

Afshin Beheshti, a systems biologist and co-author of the research, studies how different bodywork parts work together. Working for KBR at NASA's Ames Research Center in California, he and his team wanted to identify how spaceflight affects astronauts' cells and tissues.

Beheshti says, "It's a basic question, is there some sort of master switch that occurs in your body's biology in space?"

Scientists consulted with NASA GeneLab, collecting data from past space biology experiments. The team studied tissues and cells from humans and mice. They were on the lookout for possible chemical fingerprints of space travel. To do so, scientists compared chemical fingerprints of people that remained on Earth to astronauts.

Beheshti says, "The idea is not only to look for one type of chemical fingerprint, rather it is to look at the system as a whole." In doing so, researchers discovered a recurring theme among the specimens.

Research shows that the mitochondria--the powerhouse of the cell, fails to work normally after a person travels in space.

Findings from the latest study coincide with NASA's Twin Study. Astronaut Scott Kelly spent roughly a year onboard the International Space Station before retiring blood samples from both him and his twin brother that remained on the ground showed vastly different mitochondrial activity.

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Changes in the Mitochondria

Beheshti and his team studied data received from NASA's GeneLab for different cells and tissues in the latest study. Researchers analyzed RNA-- genetic bits that carry out instructions stored in the DNA-- and proteins.

Researchers also analyzed epigenetic changes in DNA. These are chemical switches that develop outside of genes. These may inappropriately turn genes on and off and affect how they work.

The team also studied the blood and urine samples of 59 astronauts. It was evident that spaceflight caused many biochemical changes in the astronauts. One symptom shows space travelers had more chemicals that triggered inflammation.

The study also found signs of oxidative stress, which is a form of cell damage. All these damages and health risks may be due to the mitochondria poor functionality post spaceflight.

If mitochondria are the culprit, systematically targeting them could help safeguard future astronauts. Some diseases cause mitochondrial damage. Drugs used to treat such diseases could reduce astronauts' health risks.

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