scholarly journals The effects of real and simulated microgravity on cellular mitochondrial function

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Phuong Nguyen ◽  
Phuong Hoa Tran ◽  
Kyu-Sung Kim ◽  
Su-Geun Yang
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Respiratory Chain ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Simulated Microgravity ◽  
Space Shuttle ◽  
Parabolic Flight ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Microgravity Environment ◽  
Mitochondrial Stress

AbstractAstronauts returning from space shuttle missions or the International Space Station have been diagnosed with various health problems such as bone demineralization, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular deconditioning, and vestibular and sensory imbalance including visual acuity, altered metabolic and nutritional status, and immune system dysregulation. These health issues are associated with oxidative stress caused by a microgravity environment. Mitochondria are a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the molecular mechanisms through which mitochondria produce ROS in a microgravity environment remain unclear. Therefore, this review aimed to explore the mechanism through which microgravity induces oxidative damage in mitochondria by evaluating the expression of genes and proteins, as well as relevant metabolic pathways. In general, microgravity-induced ROS reduce mitochondrial volume by mainly affecting the efficiency of the respiratory chain and metabolic pathways. The impaired respiratory chain is thought to generate ROS through premature electron leakage in the electron transport chain. The imbalance between ROS production and antioxidant defense in mitochondria is the main cause of mitochondrial stress and damage, which leads to mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, we discuss the effects of antioxidants against oxidative stress caused by the microgravity environment space microgravity in together with simulated microgravity (i.e., spaceflight or ground-based spaceflight analogs: parabolic flight, centrifugal force, drop towers, etc.). Further studies should be taken to explore the effects of microgravity on mitochondrial stress-related diseases, especially for the development of new therapeutic drugs that can help increase the health of astronauts on long space missions.

scholarly journals Vascular Dysfunction in Preeclampsia

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 3055
Author(s):  
Megan A. Opichka ◽  
Matthew W. Rappelt ◽  
David D. Gutterman ◽  
Justin L. Grobe ◽  
Jennifer J. McIntosh
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Vascular Dysfunction ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Cardiovascular Disorder ◽  
Endothelial Damage ◽  
Spiral Artery ◽  
Mitochondrial Stress ◽  
Inflammatory State ◽  
Life Threatening

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening pregnancy-associated cardiovascular disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria at 20 weeks of gestation. Though its exact underlying cause is not precisely defined and likely heterogenous, a plethora of research indicates that in some women with preeclampsia, both maternal and placental vascular dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis and can persist into the postpartum period. Potential abnormalities include impaired placentation, incomplete spiral artery remodeling, and endothelial damage, which are further propagated by immune factors, mitochondrial stress, and an imbalance of pro- and antiangiogenic substances. While the field has progressed, current gaps in knowledge include detailed initial molecular mechanisms and effective treatment options. Newfound evidence indicates that vasopressin is an early mediator and biomarker of the disorder, and promising future therapeutic avenues include mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction, excess oxidative stress, and the resulting inflammatory state. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of vascular defects present during preeclampsia and connect well-established notions to newer discoveries at the molecular, cellular, and whole-organism levels.

Studies of Vibration-Induced Multi-Phase Fluid Phenomena and Pulsating Heat Pipe Performance Under Microgravity

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Kawaji
Keyword(s):  
Space Shuttle ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Heat Pipes ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Protein Crystals ◽  
Microgravity Environment ◽  
Pulsating Heat Pipe ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Theoretical Investigations ◽  
Multi Phase

High quality semi-conductor and protein crystals can be grown in space by utilizing the microgravity environment in which natural convection and sedimentation effects are suppressed. But some vibrations exist on space platforms such as Space Shuttle and International Space Station that can induce crystal and fluid motions, affecting the quality of the crystals grown in space. Since the effects of small vibrations (called g-jitter) on crystal growth are not yet precisely known in space, experimental and theoretical investigations are being conducted to better understand the vibration effects on the motion of protein crystals and solid particles in liquid-filled cells. Another topic under investigation is the operation of pulsating heat pipes under microgravity. A recent experiment performed on a parabolic airplane has shown the positive effect of reduced gravity on the pulsating motion of vapour-liquid two-phase flow and heat transport in pulsating heat pipes.

scholarly journals Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Function and Adaptation to Exercise: New Perspectives in Nutrition

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1269
Author(s):  
Nancy Vargas-Mendoza ◽  
Marcelo Angeles-Valencia ◽  
Ángel Morales-González ◽  
Eduardo Osiris Madrigal-Santillán ◽  
Mauricio Morales-Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Reactive Oxygen Species ◽  
Free Radicals ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Nuclear Genome ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Mitochondrial Stress ◽  
Stressful Environments ◽  
Mitochondrial Adaptation ◽  
Adaptation To Exercise

Cells have the ability to adapt to stressful environments as a part of their evolution. Physical exercise induces an increase of a demand for energy that must be met by mitochondria as the main (ATP) provider. However, this process leads to the increase of free radicals and the so-called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are necessary for the maintenance of cell signaling and homeostasis. In addition, mitochondrial biogenesis is influenced by exercise in continuous crosstalk between the mitochondria and the nuclear genome. Excessive workloads may induce severe mitochondrial stress, resulting in oxidative damage. In this regard, the objective of this work was to provide a general overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in mitochondrial adaptation during exercise and to understand if some nutrients such as antioxidants may be implicated in blunt adaptation and/or an impact on the performance of exercise by different means.

scholarly journals Nanopore Sequencing in Microgravity

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexa B.R. McIntyre ◽  
Lindsay Rizzardi ◽  
Angela M Yu ◽  
Gail L. Rosen ◽  
Noah Alexander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequencing ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Parabolic Flight ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Microgravity Environment ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Reduced Gravity ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Minimal Modification

The ability to perform remote,in situsequencing and diagnostics has been a long-sought goal for point-of-care medicine and portable DNA/RNA measurements. This technological advancement extends to missions beyond Earth as well, both for crew health and astrobiology applications. However, most commercially available sequencing technologies are ill-suited for space flight for a variety of reasons, including excessive volume and mass, and insufficient ruggedization for spaceflight. Portable and lightweight nanopore-based sequencers, which analyze nucleic acids electrochemically, are inherently much better suited to spaceflight, and could potentially be incorporated into future missions with only minimal modification. As a first step toward evaluating the performance of nanopore sequencers in a microgravity environment, we tested the Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinIONTMin a parabolic flight simulator to examine the effect of reduced gravity on DNA sequencing. The instrument successfully generated three reads, averaging 2,371 bases. However, the median current was shifted across all reads and the error profiles changed compared with operation of the sequencer on the ground, indicating that distinct computational methods may be needed for such data. We evaluated existing methods and propose two new methods; the first new method is based on a wave-fingerprint method similar to that of the Shazam model for matching periodicity information in music, and the second is based on entropy signal mapping. These tools provide a unique opportunity for nucleic acid sequencing in reduced gravity environments. Finally, we discuss the lessons learned from the parabolic flight as they would apply to performing DNA sequencing with the MinIONTMaboard the International Space Station.

scholarly journals Space Flight Effects on Antioxidant Molecules in Dry Tardigrades: The TARDIKISS Experiment

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Maria Rizzo ◽  
Tiziana Altiero ◽  
Paola Antonia Corsetto ◽  
Gigliola Montorfano ◽  
Roberto Guidetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Space Shuttle ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Total Content ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid ◽  
Space Experiment ◽  
Microgravity Environment ◽  
Dna Integrity ◽  
Ros Scavenging ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Samples

The TARDIKISS (Tardigrades in Space) experiment was part of the Biokon in Space (BIOKIS) payload, a set of multidisciplinary experiments performed during the DAMA (Dark Matter) mission organized by Italian Space Agency and Italian Air Force in 2011. This mission supported the execution of experiments in short duration (16 days) taking the advantage of the microgravity environment on board of the Space Shuttle Endeavour (its last mission STS-134) docked to the International Space Station. TARDIKISS was composed of three sample sets: one flight sample and two ground control samples. These samples provided the biological material used to test as space stressors, including microgravity, affected animal survivability, life cycle, DNA integrity, and pathways of molecules working as antioxidants. In this paper we compared the molecular pathways of some antioxidant molecules, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and fatty acid composition between flight and control samples in two tardigrade species, namely,Paramacrobiotus richtersiandRamazzottius oberhaeuseri. In both species, the activities of ROS scavenging enzymes, the total content of glutathione, and the fatty acids composition between flight and control samples showed few significant differences. TARDIKISS experiment, together with a previous space experiment (TARSE), further confirms that both desiccated and hydrated tardigrades represent useful animal tool for space research.

scholarly journals Decreased biofilm formation in Proteus mirabilis after short-term exposure to a simulated microgravity environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dapeng Wang ◽  
Po Bai ◽  
Bin Zhang ◽  
Xiaolei Su ◽  
Xuege Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Simulated Microgravity ◽  
Normal Gravity ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Biological Characteristics ◽  
Microgravity Environment ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Future Space ◽  
Short Term Exposure

Background: Microbes threaten human health in space exploration. Studies have shown that P. mirabilis has been found in human space habitats. In addition, the biological characteristics of P. mirabilis in space have been studied unconditionally. The simulated microgravity environment provides a platform for understanding the changes in the biological characteristics of P. mirabilis. Objective: This study intends to explore the effect of simulated microgravity on P. mirabilis, the formation of P. mirabilis biofilm and its related mechanism. Methods: The strange deformable rods were cultured continuously for 14 days under the microgravity simulated by (HARVs) in a high- aspect ratio vessels. The morphology, growth rate, metabolism and biofilm formation of the strain were measured, and the phenotypic changes of P. mirabilis were evaluated. Transcriptome sequencing was used to detect differentially expressed genes under simulated microgravity and compared with phenotype. Results: The growth rate, metabolic ability and biofilm forming ability of P. mirabilis were lower than those of normal gravity culture under the condition of simulated microgravity. Further analysis showed that the decrease of growth rate, metabolic ability and biofilm forming ability may be caused by the down-regulation of related genes (pstS,sodB and fumC). Conclusion: It provides a certain reference for the prevention and treatment of P. mirabilis infection in the future space station by exploring the effect of simulated microgravity exposure on P. mirabilis.

LncRNA SNHG12 Improves Cerebral Ischemic-reperfusion Injury by Activating SIRT1/FOXO3a Pathway through I nhibition of Autophagy and Oxidative Stress

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 394-401
Author(s):  
Yuanhua Wu ◽  
Yuan Huang ◽  
Jing Cai ◽  
Donglan Zhang ◽  
Shixi Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Ht22 Cells ◽  
Cerebral Ischemic ◽  
Cerebral Ischemic Reperfusion ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

Background: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury involves complex biological processes and molecular mechanisms such as autophagy. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of I/R injury. LncRNAs are the regulatory factor of cerebral I/R injury. Methods: This study constructs cerebral I/R model to investigate role of autophagy and oxidative stress in cerebral I/R injury and the underline regulatory mechanism of SIRT1/ FOXO3a pathway. In this study, lncRNA SNHG12 and FOXO3a expression was up-regulated and SIRT1 expression was down-regulated in HT22 cells of I/R model. Results: Overexpression of lncRNA SNHG12 significantly increased the cell viability and inhibited cerebral ischemicreperfusion injury induced by I/Rthrough inhibition of autophagy. In addition, the transfected p-SIRT1 significantly suppressed the release of LDH and SOD compared with cells co-transfected with SIRT1 and FOXO3a group and cells induced by I/R and transfected with p-SNHG12 group and overexpression of cells co-transfected with SIRT1 and FOXO3 further decreased the I/R induced release of ROS and MDA. Conclusion: In conclusion, lncRNA SNHG12 increased cell activity and inhibited oxidative stress through inhibition of SIRT1/FOXO3a signaling-mediated autophagy in HT22 cells of I/R model. This study might provide new potential therapeutic targets for further investigating the mechanisms in cerebral I/R injury and provide.

Targeting PPARalpha in Alzheimer's Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara D'Orio ◽  
Anna Fracassi ◽  
Maria Paola Cerù ◽  
Sandra Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Redox Homeostasis ◽  
Antioxidant Response ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Prevailing Paradigm

Background: The molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) are yet to be fully elucidated. The so-called “amyloid cascade hypothesis” has long been the prevailing paradigm for causation of disease, and is today being revisited in relation to other pathogenic pathways, such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and energy dysmetabolism. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and regulate many physiological processes, such as energy metabolism, neurotransmission, redox homeostasis, autophagy and cell cycle. Among the three isotypes (α, β/δ, γ), PPARγ role is the most extensively studied, while information on α and β/δ are still scanty. However, recent in vitro and in vivo evidence point to PPARα as a promising therapeutic target in AD. Conclusion: This review provides an update on this topic, focussing on the effects of natural or synthetic agonists in modulating pathogenetic mechanisms at AD onset and during its progression. Ligandactivated PPARα inihibits amyloidogenic pathway, Tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation. Concomitantly, the receptor elicits an enzymatic antioxidant response to oxidative stress, ameliorates glucose and lipid dysmetabolism, and stimulates autophagy.

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