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Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform

Performing biological experiments in space requires special accommodations and procedures to ensure that these investigations are performed effectively ...

NASA Ames Research Center

Spaceflight introduces a combination of environmental stressors, including microgravity, ionizing radiation, changes in diet and altered atmospheric gas composition. In order to understand the impact of each environmental component on astronauts it is important to investigate potential influences in isolation. Rodent spaceflight experiments involve both standard vivarium cages and animal enclosure modules (AEMs), which are cages used to house rodents in spaceflight. Ground control AEMs are engineered to match the spaceflight environment. There are limited studies examining the biological response invariably due to the configuration of AEM and vivarium housing. To investigate the innate global transcriptomic patterns of rodents housed in spaceflight-matched AEM compared to standard vivarium cages we utilized publicly available data from the NASA GeneLab repository. Using a systems biology approach, we observed that AEM housing was associated with significant transcriptomic differences, including reduced metabolism, altered immune responses, and activation of possible tumorigenic pathways. Although we did not perform any functional studies, our findings revealed a mild hypoxic phenotype in AEM, possibly due to atmospheric carbon dioxide that was increased to match conditions in spaceflight. Our investigation illustrates the process of generating new hypotheses and informing future experimental research by repurposing multiple space-flown datasets.

Global transcriptomic analysis suggests carbon dioxide as an environmental stressor in spaceflight: A systems biology GeneLab case study.

Translating fundamental biological discoveries from NASA Space Biology program into health risk from space flights has been an ongoing challenge. We propose to use NASA GeneLab database to gain new knowledge on potential systemic responses to space. Unbiased systems biology analysis of transcriptomic data from seven different rodent datasets reveals for the first time the existence of potential "master regulators" coordinating a systemic response to microgravity and/or space radiation with TGF-β1 being the most common regulator. We hypothesized the space environment leads to the release of biomolecules circulating inside the blood stream. Through datamining we identified 13 candidate microRNAs (miRNA) which are common in all studies and directly interact with TGF-β1 that can be potential circulating factors impacting space biology. This study exemplifies the utility of the GeneLab data repository to aid in the process of performing novel hypothesis-based research.

A microRNA signature and TGF-β1 response were identified as the key master regulators for spaceflight response.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25209.].

Afshin Beheshti

WYLE Labs,
Space Biosciences Division

NASA Ames Research Center

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform

Afshin Beheshti

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}WYLE Labs,Space Biosciences Division

NASA Ames Research Center

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform

WYLE Labs,
Space Biosciences Division