Transcriptomics Analysis Reveals Molecular Alterations Underpinning Spaceflight Dermatology

    June 2024
    Henry Cope, Jonas Elsborg, Samuel Demharter, J. Tyson McDonald, Chiara Wernecke, Hari Parthasarathy, Hriday Unadkat, Mira Chatrathi, Jennifer Claudio, Sigrid Reinsch, Pinar Avci, Sara R. Zwart, Scott M. Smith, Martina Heer, Masafumi Muratani, Cem Meydan, Eliah Overbey, JangKeun Kim, Christopher R. Chin, Jiwoon Park, Jonathan C. Schisler, Christopher E. Mason, Nathaniel J. Szewczyk, Craig R. G. Willis, Amr Salam, Afshin Beheshti
    Studysummary This study found that spaceflight may induce skin health risks in astronauts by causing DNA damage and mitochondrial dysregulation, while also identifying gene expression changes that help re-adaptation after returning to Earth.
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    This study investigates the molecular changes in skin health due to spaceflight by analyzing transcriptomic data from murine models, biochemical profiles of 50 NASA astronauts, and samples from JAXA astronauts and the Inspiration4 mission. The research identifies key biological changes, such as DNA damage, repair issues, and mitochondrial dysregulation, as contributors to skin health risks during spaceflight. A machine learning model highlights gene pairings linked to spaceflight responses, revealing alterations in genes related to skin barrier function and collagen formation. Despite these changes, organisms show a strong ability to readapt post-flight. The findings aim to inform future research on countermeasures for spaceflight-induced skin damage.
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