New research shows that human cells suffer significant damage during space travel, including damage to telomeres — the parts of chromosomes that help them repair themselves. Because of this, they lose the ability to share, which accelerates aging.
Cells in space
Researchers at the Stem Cell Institute at the University of California, San Diego, have discovered that spaceflight accelerates the aging of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), which are vital to blood and immune system health.
In a study published in Cell Stem Cell, the team used automated AI-based nanobioreactor systems to track stem cells on four SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services missions to the International Space Station (ISS) to monitor changes in stem cells.
The results show that the cells lost some of their ability to create healthy new cells, became more susceptible to DNA damage, and showed signs of faster aging at the ends of their chromosomes after spaceflight — all signs of accelerated aging.
Is this really the case?
It should be noted that problems with cells responsible for blood formation and the immune system after space flights are far from new to medical science. Back in 2015–16, a study of the medical condition of twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly, one of whom was on the ISS at the time and the other on Earth, showed that such changes occurred, but they were relatively short-lived.
The focus of the new study was a bioreactor, a special device containing human cells and a system that monitored their condition. And it flew into space for 45 days to study the situation directly on site.
The result was an observation that cells begin to work much more intensively in space. As a result, telomeres at the ends of chromosomes rapidly shorten. In addition, inflammation of the chromosomes occurs.
However, the researchers note that after the samples returned to Earth and were placed in an environment conducive to recovery, their condition returned to normal. They seem to have rejuvenated, which confirms the conclusions made earlier.
According to phys.org
