Human Stem Cells Show Accelerated Aging During Spaceflight, New Research Reveals
SAN DIEGO, CA - Human stem cells age at a faster rate when exposed too the conditions of spaceflight, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California San Diego. The findings, published recently, offer critical insights into the physiological challenges of long-duration space missions and could have implications for understanding aging and disease on Earth.
The research focused on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), vital for blood and immune system formation. researchers sent HSPCs to the International Space Station for periods of 32 to 45 days, housed in specially designed nanobioreactors for monitoring.A control group of cells remained at the Kennedy Space Center on Earth.
Analysis revealed that the cells exposed to spaceflight exhibited reduced self-renewal capabilities and increased vulnerability to DNA damage and mitochondrial inflammation. Importantly, the study indicated these changes were not necessarily permanent, with partial reversal observed after the cells were returned to a terrestrial surroundings.
“Space is the ultimate stress test for the human body,” stated Catriona Jamieson, director of the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute. “These findings are critically important because they show that the stressors of space – like microgravity and cosmic galactic radiation - can accelerate the molecular aging of blood stem cells. Understanding these changes not only informs how we protect astronauts during long-duration missions but also helps us model human aging and diseases like cancer here on Earth.”
The study builds on existing research highlighting the significant physiological and psychological impacts of extended space travel on astronauts. Further investigation is ongoing to fully understand the long-term consequences of spaceflight on human cellular function.
