And scientists are still trying to understand Effects extend space travel Research in recent years has shown that it can be used to Astronauts may experience some huge changes On both physical and psychological levels. up to date study Leaded by a team University of California, San Diegoresearchers found signs of accelerated aging in human stem cells that have spent about a month on them.
The focus of this study is on hematopoietic stem cells (HSPCs), which are crucial for the formation of blood and immune cells. Stem cells were monitored for 32-45 days of ISS stay for 32-45 days using a specially developed nanoreactor. Another group at the Kennedy Space Center remains on Earth. Cells entering the ISS showed many changes, including reduced self-renewal ability and greater sensitivity to DNA damage in mitochondria. However, damage does not seem to be permanent. The team notes that when cells are removed from the space environment, these changes are at least partially reversed.
“Space is the ultimate stress test for the human body,” Catriona Jamieson, director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute at UC San Diego, said in a statement. “These findings are very important because they show that stressors in space, such as microgravity and cosmic galactic radiation, can accelerate molecular aging of blood stem cells. Understanding these changes can not only protect how we protect how we protect astronauts in long-term missions, but it can also help us simulate our human aging and disease on Earth like cancer.”
