This study is highlighted in the latest issue of 'Upward', the official magazine of the ISS National Lab. Principal investigator Siobhan Malany, an associate professor at the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy, noted, "Through insight we gather from microgravity, we can understand not just the end result of [sarcopenia], but really look at the progressive change in young and old cells to see what happens as cells age."
Studying muscle degeneration on Earth is challenging because it occurs over many years. In contrast, microgravity accelerates muscle loss, allowing faster research results. In a series of studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the research team developed a muscle tissue chip system to test whether muscle loss in microgravity resembles age-related muscle degeneration. The chips used muscle cells from both young and older adults, with some chips receiving electrical stimulation to trigger muscle contraction.
The results revealed that several genes linked to muscle aging were upregulated in the tissue chips with cells from young adults, confirming the effectiveness of this space-based system in replicating age-related muscle loss. This innovation offers a critical new tool for studying sarcopenia and testing potential therapies.
Related Links
International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory
Space Medicine Technology and Systems
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
