Scientists have pointed to accelerated liver aging in astronauts
Prolonged exposure to microgravity and exposure to cosmic radiation cause molecular changes in the liver that correspond to the body's natural aging process. This was reported on July 9 by Universe Today magazine.
A group of scientists led by Professor Michal Masternak created a simulation of deep space conditions in the laboratory. For 14 days, the animals were exposed to simulated weightlessness, galactic radiation, and streams of solar particles simulating the conditions of an expedition to Mars. According to the results of the experiment, within 24 hours after irradiation, genetic changes characteristic of the elderly began in the liver.
"Masternak carefully considers aging as something much more complex than surface changes. According to him, this is a "gradual and cascading disruption of the work of many organs and systems occurring simultaneously," and understanding where this cascade begins may be one of the most important unresolved issues in modern medicine.
An increase in the number of senescent cells that have lost their functions, as well as an increase in inflammatory processes and fibrosis, was recorded in the organ. These changes, if left unchecked, can lead to systemic organ failure. The researchers chose the liver for the study, as it is a key metabolic center of the body and a sensitive indicator of physiological stress.
To confirm the conclusions, the experts compared laboratory data with the results of blood tests of participants in the Inspiration4 mission and the gemini study of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA). The genetic markers in the real samples completely matched those obtained during the simulation.
In the course of their work, the scientists also identified a class of molecules called antagomers. They are able to interact with microRNAs and influence the genetic pathways associated with aging and inflammation. It is assumed that in the future this will make it possible to create drugs to protect crews on long-term space flights.
According to the authors of the study, space provides a unique opportunity to study the mechanisms of aging in a short time. Those processes that take decades on Earth manifest themselves in a matter of weeks outside the atmosphere. The acquired knowledge is planned to be used to develop therapy for age-related diseases and preserve the functions of internal organs in people who have never left the planet.
On March 4, the Science X news portal warned about the risk of blood clots in female astronauts. Scientists have found that in microgravity, women's blood clotting began more slowly. At the same time, it was recorded that after the start of blood clotting, it formed faster and was more stable. This, according to the researchers, made it difficult to destroy it.
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