Modeling and countering the effects of cosmic radiation using bioengineered human tissues

Area of Science:

• Space Medicine
• Radiation Biology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Cosmic radiation poses significant risks for long-duration space missions to the Moon and Mars.
• Understanding radiation damage mechanisms and safety thresholds is crucial for astronaut protection.
• Existing animal models do not fully replicate astronaut molecular changes, necessitating advanced in vitro systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and utilize a bioengineered tissue platform for studying individualized radiation damage.
• To assess the effects of simulated galactic cosmic rays on radiosensitive human tissues.
• To evaluate the efficacy of radioprotective agents in engineered tissue models.

Main Methods:

• Developed a bioengineered tissue platform for in vitro radiation damage studies.
• Used engineered cardiac tissues (eCT) and engineered bone marrow (eBM) models.
• Exposed tissues to high-dose neutrons (simulating galactic cosmic rays) and analyzed gene expression, phenotypes, and functions.

Main Results:

• Identified key gene expression changes related to ionizing radiation response, inflammation, oxidative stress, and matrix remodeling.
• Observed an early hypertrophic phenotype in eCT and myeloid skewing in eBM.
• Demonstrated the platform's utility in testing radioprotective agents.

Conclusions:

• Individualized engineered human tissue models offer valuable insights into radiation effects during deep-space travel.
• These models can elucidate radiation damage mechanisms and facilitate the testing of protective measures for astronauts.
• The platform shows promise for personalized radiation risk assessment and mitigation strategies.