A5030083234- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Bone health and osteoporosis research
- Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Effects of Radiation Exposure
- Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry
- Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Bone fractures and treatments
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Anesthesia and Neurotoxicity Research
- Bone Metabolism and Diseases
- Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Biomarkers in Disease Mechanisms
- Bone health and treatments
- High Altitude and Hypoxia
- Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Orthopaedic implants and arthroplasty
- Management of metastatic bone disease
- Genetics and Physical Performance
- Birth, Development, and Health
- PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancer
- Biotin and Related Studies
- Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments
Ames Research Center
2015-2024
Texas A&M University
2009-2023
Wyle (United States)
2012-2017
Universities Space Research Association
2014-2016
We have identified and validated a spaceflight-associated microRNA (miRNA) signature that is shared by rodents humans in response to simulated, short-duration long-duration spaceflight. Previous studies miRNAs regulate rodent responses spaceflight low-Earth orbit, we confirmed the expression of these proposed reacting simulated conditions. Moreover, astronaut samples from NASA Twins Study signatures miRNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), assay for transposase accessible...
Understanding the axis of human microbiome and physiological homeostasis is an essential task in managing deep-space-travel-associated health risks. The NASA-led Rodent Research 5 mission enabled ancillary investigation gut microbiome, varying exposure to microgravity (flight) relative ground controls context previously shown bone mineral density (BMD) loss that was observed these flight groups. We demonstrate elevated abundance Lactobacillus murinus Dorea sp. during control through...
Abstract Exposure to cosmic ionizing radiation is an innate risk of the spaceflight environment that can cause DNA damage and altered cellular function. In astronauts, longitudinal monitoring physiological systems interactions between these are important consider for mitigation strategies. addition, assessments sex-specific biological responses in unique vital support future exploration missions include both females males. Here we assessed sex-specific, multi-system immune endocrine...
Bone loss caused by ionizing radiation is a potential health concern for radiotherapy patients, workers and astronauts. In animal studies, exposure to increases oxidative damage in skeletal tissues, results an imbalance bone remodeling initiated increased bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Therefore, we evaluated various candidate interventions with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activities (antioxidant cocktail, dihydrolipoic acid, ibuprofen, dried plum) both their ability blunt the expression...
Abstract Animal models are useful for exploring the health consequences of prolonged spaceflight. Capabilities were developed to perform experiments in low earth orbit with on-board sample recovery, thereby avoiding complications caused by return Earth. For NASA’s Rodent Research-1 mission, female mice (ten 32 wk C57BL/6NTac; ten 16 C57BL/6J) launched on an unmanned vehicle, then resided International Space Station 21/22d or 37d microgravity. Mice euthanized on-orbit, livers and spleens...
Exposure to weightlessness in microgravity and elevated space radiation are associated with rapid bone loss mammals, but questions remain about their mechanisms of action relative importance. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that during spaceflight Low Earth Orbit is primarily site-specific unloading weight-bearing sites skeleton. Microcomputed tomography histological analyses bones from mice flown on ISS for 37 days NASA Rodent Research-1 experiment show significant cancellous...
Exposure to ionizing radiation can cause rapid mineral loss and increase bone-resorbing osteoclasts within metabolically active, cancellous bone tissue leading structural deficits. To better understand mechanisms involved in rapid, radiation-induced loss, we determined the influence of total body irradiation on expression select cytokines known both stimulate osteoclastogenesis contribute inflammatory disease. Adult (16 week), male C57BL/6J mice were exposed either 2 Gy gamma rays ((137)Cs,...
Weightlessness during spaceflight leads to functional changes in resistance arteries and loss of cancellous bone, which may be potentiated by radiation exposure. The purpose this study was assess the effects hindlimb unloading (HU) total-body irradiation (TBI) on vasomotor responses skeletal muscle arteries. Male C57BL/6 mice were assigned control, HU (13–16 days), TBI (1 Gy 56Fe, 600 MeV, 10 cGy/min) HU-TBI groups. Gastrocnemius feed isolated for vitro study. Endothelium-dependent...
Space radiation may pose a risk to skeletal health during subsequent aging. Irradiation acutely stimulates bone remodeling in mice, although the long-term influence of space on bone-forming potential (osteoblastogenesis) and possible adaptive mechanisms are not well understood. We hypothesized that ionizing impairs osteoblastogenesis an ion-type specific manner, with low doses capable modulating expression redox-related genes. 16-weeks old, male, C57BL6/J mice were exposed...
Exploration missions to the Moon or Mars will expose astronauts galactic cosmic radiation and low gravitational fields. Exposure reduced weightbearing independently result in bone loss. However, no data exist regarding skeletal consequences of combining low-dose, high-linear energy transfer (LET) partial weightbearing. We hypothesized that simulated would exacerbate loss animals held at one-sixth body weight (G/6) without exposure. Female BALB/cByJ four-month-old mice were randomly assigned...
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether partial weight-bearing activity, at either one-sixth or one-third body mass, blunts the deleterious effects simulated microgravity (0G) after 21 d on muscle mass and quantitative/qualitative measures bone.Using a novel, previously validated suspension device, mice were subjected 16% (G/3, i.e., lunar gravity) 33% (G/6, Martian weight bearing for d. One gravity control (1G, Earth tail-suspended (0G, microgravity) served as controls compare...
Mechanical unloading has long been understood to contribute rapid and substantial adaptations within skeletal muscle, most notably, muscle atrophy. Studies have often demonstrated that many of the alterations resulting from disuse are reversed with a reintroduction load supported concept plasticity. We hypothesized during recovery were repeatable/reproducible phenomenon, which we tested repeated changes in mechanical load. Rats assigned one following five groups: animals undergoing or two...
Abstract Microgravity-induced bone loss results in a 1% mineral density monthly and can be mission critical factor long-duration spaceflight. Biomolecular therapies with dual osteogenic anti-resorptive functions are promising for treating extreme osteoporosis. We previously confirmed that NELL-like molecule-1 (NELL-1) is crucial maintenance. further PEGylated NELL-1 (NELL-polyethylene glycol, or NELL-PEG) to increase systemic delivery half-life from 5.5 15.5 h. In this study, we used...
Muscle disuse impairs muscle quality and is associated with increased mortality. Little known regarding additive effects of multiple bouts disuse, which a common occurrence in patients experiencing surgeries. Mitochondrial vital to health quality; however, date mitochondrial control has not been investigated following disuse. Therefore, the purpose this study was investigate controllers during by hindlimb unloading. Male rats (n ∼ 8/group) were assigned groups: unloading for 28 days, 56 days...
Performing biological experiments in space requires special accommodations and procedures to ensure that these investigations are performed effectively efficiently. Moreover, given the infrequency of it is imperative their impacts be maximized. The rapid advancement omics technologies offers an opportunity dramatically increase volume data produced from precious spaceflight specimens. To capitalize on this, NASA has developed GeneLab platform provide unrestricted access encourage its...
Abstract Skeletal muscle atrophy is a critical health problem that affects quality of life and increases morbidity mortality. At present, exercise training remains the only intervention pharmaceutical treatments remain elusive. Formoterol (FMT), β2‐adrenergic receptor agonist, has emerged as potential therapeutic by triggering skeletal anabolism with daily dosing. Here, efficacy sustained FMT release investigated via subcutaneously implanted nanofluidic delivery system (nF) to prevent...
Microgravity exposure induces a cephalad fluid shift and an overall reduction in physical activity levels which can lead to cardiovascular deconditioning the absence of countermeasures. Future spaceflight missions will expose crew extended periods microgravity among other stressors, effects on health are not fully known. In this study, we determined cardiac responses using rat hindlimb unloading (HU) model. We hypothesized that prolonged simulated subsequent recovery would increased...
Exposure to space galactic cosmic radiation is a principal consideration for deep missions. While the effects of irradiation on nervous system are not fully known, studies in animal models have shown that exposure ionizing can cause neuronal damage and lead downstream cognitive behavioral deficits. Cognitive health implications put humans missions at risk, with upcoming Artemis which female crew will play major role, advance critical analysis neurological performance responses male rodents...
Reductions in energy availability leading to weight loss can induce of bone and impact important endocrine regulators integrity. We sought elucidate whether endurance exercise (EX) mitigate observed sedentary (SED) skeletally mature rodents subjected graded deficits. Female virgin rats (n=84, 5-mo-old; 12/group) were randomized baseline controls either or conditions, within each status adlib-fed (ADLIB), moderate (MOD) severe (SEV) restriction diets for 12 weeks. Rats assigned EX groups...