Human Muscle Cells Sent to Space to Study Ageing in Microgravity Condition

UK-based researchers hope to better understand the loss of muscle mass by exposing samples of human muscle cells to microgravity conditions on the International Space Station (ISS) and tackle aging effects.

Scientists Study Age-Related Muscle Mass Loss

MicroAge, a project by the University of Liverpool, was recently launched on a SpaceX rocket to the ISS. It is expected to arrive on the ISS on Wednesday afternoon, reports PhysOrg. Scientists embark on the experiment to study age-related muscle mass loss and function by exposing human samples to microgravity conditions.

Humans face the problems of muscle mass loss as they age. However, astronauts during missions experience them at a much more rapid rate due to long-duration missions in space. The research aims to help scientists discover new ways to significantly reduce the health conditions in aging people and astronauts.

Professor Anne McArdle from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences says that identifying any underlying mechanisms responsible for the loss of muscle mass and strength related to aging has been the subject of the team's research for many years, reports The National News UAE.

She adds that astronauts suspended in microgravity lose their muscle mass and strength at such an accelerated rate compared to aging people on Earth, providing a unique model to hurriedly determine the mechanisms of underlying muscle loss not just for astronauts but with relevance to the aging population on Earth.

Scientists grew "mini-muscles" harvested from human muscle cells in the lab. After being stored in 24 containers, they were shot out into space via SpaceX rockets. Some muscle samples will be electrically stimulated to recreate the effects of exercise. Others will then be exposed to increasing amounts of protective heat shock proteins that provide protection against the wasting of aging muscles.

The samples will be frozen and sent back to Earth for further analysis by the end of the experiment. Professor Malcolm Jackson, leader of the project, says that the team has worked vigorously for the past three years. Adding that aging is one of the 21st century's greatest challenges. Hence, the opportunity to utilize microgravity to understand the underlying mechanisms of age-related muscle loss gives the team excitement.

Funding for the study came from the UK Space Agency that contributed £1.1 million.

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Age-Related Researchers on the ISS: Scott Kelly's Telomeres

Chief executive of the space agency, Dr. Graham Turnock, said that the space station helped carry out cutting-edge research since it began operation over 20 years ago. He adds that as they celebrate all the achievements, the new funding puts UK academics at the forefront of future scientific researchers allowing them to gain vast knowledge on improving life on Earth.

For several years the space station has been conducting numerous experiments to better study age-related conditions. One of the most extensive projects carried out was NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who lived on the floating laboratory for over a year while his twin Mark stayed on the planet.

They discovered that Kelly's telomeres had grown longer during his stay in space while rapidly shrinking as soon as he returned to land but was shorter than before he departed for his mission.