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Andrade MR, Azeez TA, Montgomery MM, Caldwell JT, Park H, Kwok AT, Borg AM, Narayanan SA, Willey JS, Delp MD, La Favor JD. Neurovascular dysfunction associated with erectile dysfunction persists after long-term recovery from simulations of weightlessness and deep space irradiation. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23246. [PMID: 37990646 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300506rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
There has been growing interest within the space industry for long-duration manned expeditions to the Moon and Mars. During deep space missions, astronauts are exposed to high levels of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) and microgravity which are associated with increased risk of oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. Oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are causative factors in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction, although the effects of spaceflight on erectile function have been unexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of simulated spaceflight and long-term recovery on tissues critical for erectile function, the distal internal pudendal artery (dIPA), and the corpus cavernosum (CC). Eighty-six adult male Fisher-344 rats were randomized into six groups and exposed to 4-weeks of hindlimb unloading (HLU) or weight-bearing control, and sham (0Gy), 0.75 Gy, or 1.5 Gy of simulated GCR at the ground-based GCR simulator at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory. Following a 12-13-month recovery, ex vivo physiological analysis of the dIPA and CC tissue segments revealed differential impacts of HLU and GCR on endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation that was tissue type specific. GCR impaired non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) nerve-mediated relaxation in the dIPA and CC, while follow-up experiments of the CC showed restoration of NANC-mediated relaxation of GCR tissues following acute incubation with the antioxidants mito-TEMPO and TEMPOL, as well as inhibitors of xanthine oxidase and arginase. These findings indicate that simulated spaceflight exerts a long-term impairment of neurovascular erectile function, which exposes a new health risk to consider with deep space exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuella R Andrade
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Tooyib A Azeez
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - McLane M Montgomery
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Jacob T Caldwell
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Hyerim Park
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Andy T Kwok
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alexander M Borg
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - S Anand Narayanan
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Willey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael D Delp
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Justin D La Favor
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
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2
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Azimzadeh O, Moertl S, Ramadan R, Baselet B, Laiakis EC, Sebastian S, Beaton D, Hartikainen JM, Kaiser JC, Beheshti A, Salomaa S, Chauhan V, Hamada N. Application of radiation omics in the development of adverse outcome pathway networks: an example of radiation-induced cardiovascular disease. Int J Radiat Biol 2022; 98:1722-1751. [PMID: 35976069 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2110325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies have indicated that exposure of the heart to doses of ionizing radiation as low as 0.5 Gy increases the risk of cardiac morbidity and mortality with a latency period of decades. The damaging effects of radiation to myocardial and endothelial structures and functions have been confirmed radiobiologically at high dose, but much less is known at low dose. Integration of radiation biology and epidemiology data is a recommended approach to improve the radiation risk assessment process. The adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework offers a comprehensive tool to compile and translate mechanistic information into pathological endpoints which may be relevant for risk assessment at the different levels of a biological system. Omics technologies enable the generation of large volumes of biological data at various levels of complexity, from molecular pathways to functional organisms. Given the quality and quantity of available data across levels of biology, omics data can be attractive sources of information for use within the AOP framework. It is anticipated that radiation omics studies could improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the adverse effects of radiation on the cardiovascular system. In this review, we explored the available omics studies on radiation-induced cardiovascular disease (CVD) and their applicability to the proposed AOP for CVD. RESULTS The results of 80 omics studies published on radiation-induced CVD over the past 20 years have been discussed in the context of the AOP of CVD proposed by Chauhan et al. Most of the available omics data on radiation-induced CVD are from proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, whereas few datasets were available from epigenomics and multi-omics. The omics data presented here show great promise in providing information for several key events of the proposed AOP of CVD, particularly oxidative stress, alterations of energy metabolism, extracellular matrix and vascular remodeling. CONCLUSIONS The omics data presented here shows promise to inform the various levels of the proposed AOP of CVD. However, the data highlight the urgent need of designing omics studies to address the knowledge gap concerning different radiation scenarios, time after exposure and experimental models. This review presents the evidence to build a qualitative omics-informed AOP and provides views on the potential benefits and challenges in using omics data to assess risk-related outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omid Azimzadeh
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Section Radiation Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Simone Moertl
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Section Radiation Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Raghda Ramadan
- Institute for Environment, Health and Safety, Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol, Belgium
| | - Bjorn Baselet
- Institute for Environment, Health and Safety, Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol, Belgium
| | - Evagelia C Laiakis
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | | | | | - Jaana M Hartikainen
- School of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Pathology and Forensic Medicine, and Translational Cancer Research Area, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jan Christian Kaiser
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Radiation Medicine (HMGU-IRM), 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Afshin Beheshti
- KBR, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Sisko Salomaa
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Vinita Chauhan
- Environmental Health Science Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Biology and Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Komae, Tokyo 201-8511, Japan
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3
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Xu Y, Pei W, Hu W. A Current Overview of the Biological Effects of Combined Space Environmental Factors in Mammals. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:861006. [PMID: 35493084 PMCID: PMC9039719 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.861006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Distinct from Earth’s environment, space environmental factors mainly include space radiation, microgravity, hypomagnetic field, and disrupted light/dark cycles that cause physiological changes in astronauts. Numerous studies have demonstrated that space environmental factors can lead to muscle atrophy, bone loss, carcinogenesis, immune disorders, vascular function and cognitive impairment. Most current ground-based studies focused on single environmental factor biological effects. To promote manned space exploration, a better understanding of the biological effects of the spaceflight environment is necessary. This paper summarizes the latest research progress of the combined biological effects of double or multiple space environmental factors on mammalian cells, and discusses their possible molecular mechanisms, with the hope of providing a scientific theoretical basis to develop appropriate countermeasures for astronauts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Weiwei Pei, ; Wentao Hu,
| | - Wentao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Weiwei Pei, ; Wentao Hu,
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4
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Abstract
The direct (eg, radiation, microgravity) and indirect (eg, lifestyle perturbations) effects of spaceflight extend across multiple systems resulting in whole-organism cardiovascular deconditioning. For over 50 years, National Aeronautics and Space Administration has continually enhanced a countermeasures program designed to characterize and offset the adverse cardiovascular consequences of spaceflight. In this review, we provide a historical overview of research evaluating the effects of spaceflight on cardiovascular health in astronauts and outline mechanisms underpinning spaceflight-related cardiovascular alterations. We also discuss how spaceflight could be leveraged for aging, industry, and model systems such as human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, organoid, and organ-on-a-chip technologies. Finally, we outline the increasing opportunities for scientists and clinicians to engage in cardiovascular research in space and on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Scott
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY (J.M.S.).,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY (J.M.S.)
| | | | - Lianne Dolan
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada (L.D.)
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Basirun C, Ferlazzo ML, Howell NR, Liu GJ, Middleton RJ, Martinac B, Narayanan SA, Poole K, Gentile C, Chou J. Microgravity × Radiation: A Space Mechanobiology Approach Toward Cardiovascular Function and Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:750775. [PMID: 34778261 PMCID: PMC8586646 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.750775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in space exploration, supported by the accelerated technological advancements in the field. This has led to a new potential environment that humans could be exposed to in the very near future, and therefore an increasing request to evaluate the impact this may have on our body, including health risks associated with this endeavor. A critical component in regulating the human pathophysiology is represented by the cardiovascular system, which may be heavily affected in these extreme environments of microgravity and radiation. This mini review aims to identify the impact of microgravity and radiation on the cardiovascular system. Being able to understand the effect that comes with deep space explorations, including that of microgravity and space radiation, may also allow us to get a deeper understanding of the heart and ultimately our own basic physiological processes. This information may unlock new factors to consider with space exploration whilst simultaneously increasing our knowledge of the cardiovascular system and potentially associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carin Basirun
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Melanie L. Ferlazzo
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
- Inserm, U1296 Unit, Radiation: Defense, Health and Environment, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Nicholas R. Howell
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Guo-Jun Liu
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
- Discipline of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Ryan J. Middleton
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Boris Martinac
- Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - S. Anand Narayanan
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Kate Poole
- EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Carmine Gentile
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Joshua Chou
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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6
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Kumar A, Tahimic CGT, Almeida EAC, Globus RK. Spaceflight Modulates the Expression of Key Oxidative Stress and Cell Cycle Related Genes in Heart. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9088. [PMID: 34445793 PMCID: PMC8396460 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight causes cardiovascular changes due to microgravity-induced redistribution of body fluids and musculoskeletal unloading. Cardiac deconditioning and atrophy on Earth are associated with altered Trp53 and oxidative stress-related pathways, but the effects of spaceflight on cardiac changes at the molecular level are less understood. We tested the hypothesis that spaceflight alters the expression of key genes related to stress response pathways, which may contribute to cardiovascular deconditioning during extended spaceflight. Mice were exposed to spaceflight for 15 days or maintained on Earth (ground control). Ventricle tissue was harvested starting ~3 h post-landing. We measured expression of select genes implicated in oxidative stress pathways and Trp53 signaling by quantitative PCR. Cardiac expression levels of 37 of 168 genes tested were altered after spaceflight. Spaceflight downregulated transcription factor, Nfe2l2 (Nrf2), upregulated Nox1 and downregulated Ptgs2, suggesting a persistent increase in oxidative stress-related target genes. Spaceflight also substantially upregulated Cdkn1a (p21) and cell cycle/apoptosis-related gene Myc, and downregulated the inflammatory response gene Tnf. There were no changes in apoptosis-related genes such as Trp53. Spaceflight altered the expression of genes regulating redox balance, cell cycle and senescence in cardiac tissue of mice. Thus, spaceflight may contribute to cardiac dysfunction due to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhilesh Kumar
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 288-2, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; (A.K.); (E.A.C.A.)
| | | | - Eduardo A. C. Almeida
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 288-2, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; (A.K.); (E.A.C.A.)
| | - Ruth K. Globus
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 288-2, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; (A.K.); (E.A.C.A.)
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7
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A Protective Strategy to Counteract the Oxidative Stress Induced by Simulated Microgravity on H9C2 Cardiomyocytes. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:9951113. [PMID: 33986919 PMCID: PMC8079188 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9951113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Microgravity affects human cardiovascular function inducing heart rhythm disturbances and even cardiac atrophy. The mechanisms triggered by microgravity and the search for protection strategies are difficult to be investigated in vivo. This study is aimed at investigating the effects induced by simulated microgravity on a cardiomyocyte-like phenotype. The Random Positioning Machine (RPM), set in a CO2 incubator, was used to simulate microgravity, and H9C2 cell line was used as the cardiomyocyte-like model. H9C2 cells were exposed to simulated microgravity up to 96 h, showing a slower cell proliferation rate and lower metabolic activity in comparison to cell grown at earth gravity. In exposed cells, these effects were accompanied by increased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytosolic Ca2+, and mitochondrial superoxide anion. Protein carbonyls, markers of protein oxidation, were significantly increased after the first 48 h of exposition in the RPM. In these conditions, the presence of an antioxidant, the N-acetylcysteine (NAC), counteracted the effects induced by the simulated microgravity. In conclusion, these data suggest that simulated microgravity triggers a concomitant increase of intracellular ROS and Ca2+ levels and affects cell metabolic activity which in turn could be responsible for the slower proliferative rate. Nevertheless, the very low number of detectable dead cells and, more interestingly, the protective effect of NA, demonstrate that simulated microgravity does not have “an irreversible toxic effect” but, affecting the oxidative balance, results in a transient slowdown of proliferation.
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8
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Abd-ElRaouf A, Nada AS, Mohammed NEDA, Amer HA, Abd-ElRahman SS, Abdelsalam RM, Salem HA. Low dose gamma irradiation attenuates cyclophosphamide-induced cardiotoxicity in rats: role of NF-κB signaling pathway. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:632-641. [PMID: 33635746 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1893856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cyclophosphamide (Cyp) is one of the most commonly used, wide spectrum chemotherapeutic agents. Cyp has multi-organ toxicities that are dose limiting, thus it's mostly used in chemotherapeutic combinations. Radiation is well known as a hazardous sort of energy, recent studies are interested in studying the beneficial therapeutic effects of low-dose gamma radiation. This study examined the protective effect of two different doses/dose-rates of irradiation either alone or combined with telmisartan against Cyp-induced cardiotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rats were divided into seven groups; (1): Control, (2): Cyp, (3-4): 0.05 Gy low dose rate (LDR) irradiation, 0.25 Gy high dose rate (HDR) irradiation, respectively, prior to Cyp dose, (5-7): telmisartan either alone or with 0.05 Gy LDR-irradiation or 0.25 Gy HDR-irradiation, respectively, prior to Cyp dose. The current investigation studied the effect of Cyp alone or combined with different treatment regimens on serum cTn-I and LDH, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway (p65/IκB/IKK-α/IKK-ß) in the myocardium. Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α were assessed in addition to histopathological examination of the heart. RESULTS Low-dose irradiation attenuated cardiac enzymes, pro-inflammatory cytokines, NF-κB content, and histology, in both low and HDRs. Furthermore, the combination of low-dose irradiation with telmisartan (an angiotensin-II receptor type-1 blocker and a known cardio-protective drug) offered the best histological results. CONCLUSIONS Low-dose irradiation-induced amelioration is partially but not completely through canonical activation of NF-κB, and may have another atypical pathway. While telmisartan probably ameliorates NF-κB totally through canonical pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Abd-ElRaouf
- National Centre of Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed S Nada
- National Centre of Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nour El-Din A Mohammed
- National Centre of Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hany A Amer
- National Centre for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sahar S Abd-ElRahman
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, Cairo University, Giza Square, Egypt
| | - Rania M Abdelsalam
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hesham A Salem
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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9
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Meerman M, Bracco Gartner TCL, Buikema JW, Wu SM, Siddiqi S, Bouten CVC, Grande-Allen KJ, Suyker WJL, Hjortnaes J. Myocardial Disease and Long-Distance Space Travel: Solving the Radiation Problem. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:631985. [PMID: 33644136 PMCID: PMC7906998 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.631985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation-induced cardiovascular disease is a well-known complication of radiation exposure. Over the last few years, planning for deep space missions has increased interest in the effects of space radiation on the cardiovascular system, as an increasing number of astronauts will be exposed to space radiation for longer periods of time. Research has shown that exposure to different types of particles found in space radiation can lead to the development of diverse cardiovascular disease via fibrotic myocardial remodeling, accelerated atherosclerosis and microvascular damage. Several underlying mechanisms for radiation-induced cardiovascular disease have been identified, but many aspects of the pathophysiology remain unclear. Existing pharmacological compounds have been evaluated to protect the cardiovascular system from space radiation-induced damage, but currently no radioprotective compounds have been approved. This review critically analyzes the effects of space radiation on the cardiovascular system, the underlying mechanisms and potential countermeasures to space radiation-induced cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Meerman
- Division Heart and Lung, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Tom C L Bracco Gartner
- Division Heart and Lung, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jan Willem Buikema
- Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Sean M Wu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Sailay Siddiqi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Carlijn V C Bouten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | | | - Willem J L Suyker
- Division Heart and Lung, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jesper Hjortnaes
- Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Division Heart and Lung, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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10
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Sadhukhan R, Majumdar D, Garg S, Landes RD, McHargue V, Pawar SA, Chowdhury P, Griffin RJ, Narayanasamy G, Boerma M, Dobretsov M, Hauer-Jensen M, Pathak R. Simultaneous exposure to chronic irradiation and simulated microgravity differentially alters immune cell phenotype in mouse thymus and spleen. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2021; 28:66-73. [PMID: 33612181 PMCID: PMC7900614 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Deep-space missions may alter immune cell phenotype in the primary (e.g., thymus) and secondary (e.g., spleen) lymphoid organs contributing to the progression of a variety of diseases. In deep space missions, astronauts will be exposed to chronic low doses of HZE radiation while being in microgravity. Ground-based models of long-term uninterrupted exposures to HZE radiation are not yet available. To obtain insight in the effects of concurrent exposure to microgravity and chronic irradiation (CIR), mice received a cumulative dose of chronic 0.5 Gy gamma rays over one month ± simulated microgravity (SMG). To obtain insight in a dose rate effect, additional mice were exposed to single acute irradiation (AIR) at 0.5 Gy gamma rays. We measured proportions of immune cells relative to total number of live cells in the thymus and spleen, stress level markers in plasma, and change in body weight, food consumption, and water intake. CIR affected thymic CD3+/CD335+ natural killer T (NK-T) cells, CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, CD27+/CD335- natural killer (NK1) cells and CD11c+/CD11b- dendritic cells (DCs) differently in mice subjected to SMG than in mice with normal loading. No such effects of CIR on SMG as compared to normal loading were observed in cell types from the spleen. Differences between CIR and AIR groups (both under normal loading) were found in thymic Treg and DCs. Food consumption, water intake, and body weight were less after coexposure than singular or no exposure. Compared to sham, all treatment groups exhibited elevated plasma levels of the stress marker catecholamines. These data suggest that microgravity and chronic irradiation may interact with each other to alter immune cell phenotypes in an organ-specific manner and appropriate strategies are required to reduce the health risk of crewmembers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratan Sadhukhan
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Debajyoti Majumdar
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Sarita Garg
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Reid D Landes
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Victoria McHargue
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Snehalata A Pawar
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Parimal Chowdhury
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Robert J Griffin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Ganesh Narayanasamy
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Marjan Boerma
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Maxim Dobretsov
- Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; I.M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Sankt-Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Martin Hauer-Jensen
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Rupak Pathak
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
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11
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Kokhan VS, Mariasina S, Pikalov VA, Abaimov DA, Somasundaram SG, Kirkland CE, Aliev G. Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist reverses functional CNS alteration caused by combined γ-rays and carbon nuclei irradiation. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS 2021; 21:278-289. [PMID: 33480350 DOI: 10.2174/1871527320666210122092330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ionizing radiation (IR) is one of the major limiting factors for human deep-space missions. Preventing IR-induced cognitive alterations in astronauts is a critical success factor. It has been shown that cognitive alterations in rodents can be inferred by alterations of a psycho-emotional balance, primarily an anxiogenic effect of IR. In our recent work we hypothesized that the neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor may be instrumental for such alterations. OBJECTIVE The NK1 receptor antagonist rolapitant and the classic anxiolytic diazepam (as a comparison drug) were selected to test this hypothesis on Wistar rats. METHOD Pharmacological substances were administered through intragastric probes. We used a battery of tests for a comprehensive ethological analysis. A high-performance liquid chromatography was applied to quantify monoamines content. An analysis of mRNA expression was performed by real-time PCR. Protein content was studied by Western blotting technique. RESULTS Our salient finding includes no substantial changes in anxiety, locomotor activity and cognitive abilities of treated rats under irradiation. No differences were found in the content of monoamines. We discovered a synchronous effect on mRNA expression and protein content of 5-HT2a and 5-HT4 receptors in the prefrontal cortex, as well as decreased content of serotonin transporter and increased content of tryptophan hydroxylase in the hypothalamus of irradiated rats. Rolapitant affected the protein amount of a number of serotonin receptors in the amygdala of irradiated rats. CONCLUSION Rolapitant may be the first atypical radioprotector, providing symptomatic treatment of CNS functional disorders in astronauts caused by IR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor S Kokhan
- V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow. Russian Federation
| | - Sofia Mariasina
- M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow. Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir A Pikalov
- Institute for High Energy Physics named by A.A. Logunov of NRC "Kurchatov Institute", Protvino. Russian Federation
| | | | - Siva G Somasundaram
- Department of Biological Sciences, Salem University, Salem, WV, 26426. United States
| | - Cecil E Kirkland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Salem University, Salem, WV, 26426. United States
| | - Gjumrakch Aliev
- I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), 8/2 Trubetskaya Str., Moscow, 119991. Russian Federation
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12
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Shin E, Lee S, Kang H, Kim J, Kim K, Youn H, Jin YW, Seo S, Youn B. Organ-Specific Effects of Low Dose Radiation Exposure: A Comprehensive Review. Front Genet 2020; 11:566244. [PMID: 33133150 PMCID: PMC7565684 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.566244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ionizing radiation (IR) is a high-energy radiation whose biological effects depend on the irradiation doses. Low-dose radiation (LDR) is delivered during medical diagnoses or by an exposure to radioactive elements and has been linked to the occurrence of chronic diseases, such as leukemia and cardiovascular diseases. Though epidemiological research is indispensable for predicting and dealing with LDR-induced abnormalities in individuals exposed to LDR, little is known about epidemiological markers of LDR exposure. Moreover, difference in the LDR-induced molecular events in each organ has been an obstacle to a thorough investigation of the LDR effects and a validation of the experimental results in in vivo models. In this review, we summarized the recent reports on LDR-induced risk of organ-specifically arranged the alterations for a comprehensive understanding of the biological effects of LDR. We suggested that LDR basically caused the accumulation of DNA damages, controlled systemic immune systems, induced oxidative damages on peripheral organs, and even benefited the viability in some organs. Furthermore, we concluded that understanding of organ-specific responses and the biological markers involved in the responses is needed to investigate the precise biological effects of LDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunguk Shin
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Sungmin Lee
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Hyunkoo Kang
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Jeongha Kim
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Kyeongmin Kim
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea
| | - HyeSook Youn
- Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young Woo Jin
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Songwon Seo
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, South Korea
| | - BuHyun Youn
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea.,Department of Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea
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13
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Parihar VK, Angulo MC, Allen BD, Syage A, Usmani MT, Passerat de la Chapelle E, Amin AN, Flores L, Lin X, Giedzinski E, Limoli CL. Sex-Specific Cognitive Deficits Following Space Radiation Exposure. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:535885. [PMID: 33192361 PMCID: PMC7525092 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.535885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The radiation fields in space define tangible risks to the health of astronauts, and significant work in rodent models has clearly shown a variety of exposure paradigms to compromise central nervous system (CNS) functionality. Despite our current knowledge, sex differences regarding the risks of space radiation exposure on cognitive function remain poorly understood, which is potentially problematic given that 30% of astronauts are women. While work from us and others have demonstrated pronounced cognitive decrements in male mice exposed to charged particle irradiation, here we show that female mice exhibit significant resistance to adverse neurocognitive effects of space radiation. The present findings indicate that male mice exposed to low doses (≤30 cGy) of energetic (400 MeV/n) helium ions (4He) show significantly higher levels of neuroinflammation and more extensive cognitive deficits than females. Twelve weeks following 4He ion exposure, irradiated male mice demonstrated significant deficits in object and place recognition memory accompanied by activation of microglia, marked upregulation of hippocampal Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and increased expression of the pro-inflammatory marker high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1). Additionally, we determined that exposure to 4He ions caused a significant decline in the number of dendritic branch points and total dendritic length along with the hippocampus neurons in female mice. Interestingly, only male mice showed a significant decline of dendritic spine density following irradiation. These data indicate that fundamental differences in inflammatory cascades between male and female mice may drive divergent CNS radiation responses that differentially impact the structural plasticity of neurons and neurocognitive outcomes following cosmic radiation exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipan K Parihar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Maria C Angulo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Barrett D Allen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Amber Syage
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Manal T Usmani
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | | | - Amal Nayan Amin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lidia Flores
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Xiaomeng Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Erich Giedzinski
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Charles L Limoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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14
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Coutinho JVDS, Ferreira PS, Soares J, Passamai JL, D'Azeredo Orlando MT, Gouvea SA. Evaluation of induced biological effects in rats by continuous and natural gamma radiation using a physical simulator. Int J Radiat Biol 2020; 96:1473-1485. [PMID: 32845812 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1812760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The effects of radioactivity on human health have been debated for many years but there are still important gaps that need to be addressed especially related to the effects of high natural background radiation on the local population. The beach of Meaípe, in the city of Guarapari (Brazil), emits natural gamma radiation due to the presence of monazite sands. We aimed to investigate the effects of gamma radiation doses on the biological system of wistar rats using a physical simulator of gamma radiation designed using Meaípe monazite sands. METHODS Female Wistar rats were divided into three groups, submitted to no radiation (control group) and to continuous radiation levels, one of very high level (20 μSv h-1) and another of high level (3.6 μSv h-1). The three group of animals were monitored weekly for 3 months and at the end of the study the animals were sacrificed, and the organs were extracted and weighed for anthropometric, oxidative stress and histological evaluations. RESULTS Exposure to radiation released by the monazite sands did not cause anthropometric alterations or blood pressure change in the animals. Similarly, there was no change in the quantification of ovarian follicles between the radiation groups and the control group. There was no difference in the oxidative stress quantification by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and advanced oxidation protein product methods in the ovaries. There were no evidenced damages in the structure of the renal tissue. It was observed the presence of granulomas in the hepatic tissue and alterations in the nuclei of the hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the continuous exposure of females rats to 3.6 and 20 μSv h-1 doses of gamma radiation slightly affected the hepatic tissue, but did not alter the histological parameters in the kidneys and ovaries and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Priscila Santos Ferreira
- Postgraduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil
| | - Jacyra Soares
- Department of Atmospheric Science, IAG, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Luis Passamai
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil
| | | | - Sonia Alves Gouvea
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil
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15
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Jin M, Wang J, Zhang H, Zhou H, Zhao K. Simulated Weightlessness Perturbs the Intestinal Metabolomic Profile of Rats. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1279. [PMID: 31680997 PMCID: PMC6803529 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, disorders of intestinal homeostasis in the space environment have been extensively demonstrated. Accumulating evidence have suggested microgravity and simulated weightlessness could induce dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota, which may contribute to the bowel symptoms during spaceflight. However, the specific responses of intestinal metabolome under simulated weightlessness and its relationship with the intestinal microbiome and immune characteristics remain largely unknown. In the current study, 20 adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the control group and the simulated weightlessness group using a hindlimb unloading model. The metabolomic profiling of cecal contents from eight rats of each group was investigated by gas chromatography-time of flight/mass spectrometry. The significantly different metabolites, biomarkers, and related pathways were identified. Multivariate analysis, such as principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis, demonstrated an obvious separation between the control group and the simulated weightlessness group. Significantly different metabolites, such as xylose, sinapinic acid, indolelactate, and digalacturonic acid, were identified, which participate in mainly pyrimidine metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and valine, leucine and isoleucine metabolism. Cytidine-5'-monophosphate, 4-hydroxypyridine, and phloretic acid were determined as pivotal biomarkers under simulated weightlessness. Moreover, the significantly different metabolites were remarkably correlated with dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota and disturbance of immunological characteristics induced by simulated weightlessness. These metabolic features provide crucial candidates for therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders under weightlessness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingliang Jin
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Hongbin Zhou
- Dalian Chengsan Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., Dalian, China
| | - Ke Zhao
- College of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China
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16
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Zhuang L, Xia W, Hou M. Co‑culturing with hypoxia pre‑conditioned mesenchymal stem cells as a new strategy for the prevention of irradiation‑induced fibroblast‑to‑myofibroblast transition. Oncol Rep 2019; 42:1781-1792. [PMID: 31485596 PMCID: PMC6775806 DOI: 10.3892/or.2019.7293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a pathological consequence of radiation-induced fibroblast proliferation and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT). Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation has been revealed to be an effective treatment strategy to inhibit cardiac fibrosis. We identified a novel MSC-driven mechanism that inhibited cardiac fibrosis, via the regulation of multiple fibrogenic pathways. Hypoxia pre-conditioned MSCs (MSCsHypoxia) were co-cultured with fibroblasts using a Transwell system. Radiation-induced fibroblast proliferation was assessed using an MTT assay, and FMT was confirmed by assessing the mRNA levels of various markers of fibrosis, including type I collagen (Col1) and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). α-SMA expression was also confirmed via immunocytochemistry. The expression levels of Smad7 and Smad3 were detected by western blotting, and Smad7 was silenced using small interfering RNAs. The levels of oxidative stress following radiation were assessed by the detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). It was revealed that co-culturing with MSCsHypoxia could inhibit fibroblast proliferation and FMT. In addition, the present results indicated that MSCs are necessary and sufficient for the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation and FMT by functionally targeting TGF-β1/Smad7/Smad3 signaling via the release of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Furthermore, it was observed that MSCs inhibited fibrosis by modulating oxidative stress. Co-culturing with MSCsHypoxia alleviated fibroblast proliferation and FMT via the TGF-β1/Smad7/Smad3 pathway. MSCs may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of radiation-related cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhuang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Wenzheng Xia
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
| | - Meng Hou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China
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17
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Overbey EG, Paul AM, da Silveira WA, Tahimic CGT, Reinsch SS, Szewczyk N, Stanbouly S, Wang C, Galazka JM, Mao XW. Mice Exposed to Combined Chronic Low-Dose Irradiation and Modeled Microgravity Develop Long-Term Neurological Sequelae. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174094. [PMID: 31443374 PMCID: PMC6747492 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight poses many challenges for humans. Ground-based analogs typically focus on single parameters of spaceflight and their associated acute effects. This study assesses the long-term transcriptional effects following single and combination spaceflight analog conditions using the mouse model: simulated microgravity via hindlimb unloading (HLU) and/or low-dose γ-ray irradiation (LDR) for 21 days, followed by 4 months of readaptation. Changes in gene expression and epigenetic modifications in brain samples during readaptation were analyzed by whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing (RNA-seq) and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). The results showed minimal gene expression and cytosine methylation alterations at 4 months readaptation within single treatment conditions of HLU or LDR. In contrast, following combined HLU+LDR, gene expression and promoter methylation analyses showed multiple altered pathways involved in neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, the regulation of neuropeptides, and cellular signaling. In brief, neurological readaptation following combined chronic LDR and HLU is a dynamic process that involves pathways that regulate neuronal function and structure and may lead to late onset neurological sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliah G Overbey
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Amber M Paul
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD 21046, USA
| | - Willian A da Silveira
- Institute for Global Food Security (IGF), School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT7 1NN, UK
| | - Candice G T Tahimic
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- KBR, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Sigrid S Reinsch
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Nathaniel Szewczyk
- MRC/ARUK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research & National Institute for Health Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Royal Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham, Derby DE22 3DT, UK
| | - Seta Stanbouly
- Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences (BMES), Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Charles Wang
- Center for Genomics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Jonathan M Galazka
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.
| | - Xiao Wen Mao
- Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences (BMES), Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
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