Dynamic Changes of Heart Failure Biomarkers in Response to Parabolic Flight

Abstract

Background: we aimed at investigating the influence of weightlessness and hypergravity by means of parabolic flight on the levels of the heart failure biomarkers H-FABP, sST2, IL-33, GDF-15, suPAR and Fetuin-A. Methods: 14 healthy volunteers (males: eight; mean age: 28.9) undergoing 31 short-term phases of weightlessness and hypergravity were included. At different time points (baseline, 1 h/24 h after parabolic flight), venous blood was drawn and analyzed by the use of ELISA. Results: sST2 evidenced a significant decrease 24 h after parabolic flight (baseline vs. 24, p = 0.009; 1 h vs. 24 h, p = 0.004). A similar finding was observed for GDF-15 (baseline vs. 24 h, p = 0.002; 1 h vs. 24 h, p = 0.025). The suPAR showed a significant decrease 24 h after parabolic flight (baseline vs. 24 h, p = 0.1726; 1 h vs. 24 h, p = 0.009). Fetuin-A showed a significant increase at 1 h and 24 h after parabolic flight (baseline vs. 24 h, p = 0.007; 1 h vs. 24 h, p = 0.04). H-FABP and IL-33 showed no significant differences at all time points. Conclusion: Our results suggest a reduction in cardiac stress induced by exposure to gravitational changes. Moreover, our findings indicate an influence of gravitational changes on proliferative processes and calcium homeostasis.

Cardiovascular Adaptations of Space Travel: A Systematic Review

“…• Decreases of hemoglobin and hematocrit 24 h after spaceflight • Total white blood counts were unaltered, differential subset analysis revealed significant decreases of eosinophil granulocytes and monocytes Khine [15] 29752376 2018 III Clinical 13 6 months (real) • No definite evidence of increased supraventricular arrhythmias and no identified episodes of atrial fibrillation Jirak [16] 32423045 2020 II Clinical 14 Short-term (simulated)…”

Microgravity and Space Medicine

“…One study investigated the short-term effects of PF maneuvers on the human organism (enrolled 14 healthy participants) [13]. The authors measured different heart failure biomarkers and found a reduction in cardiac stress and an influence of µg on the immune system through impairment and a decrease in inflammatory activation [13].…”

“…[20] Influence of gravitational changes on proliferative processes and calcium homeostasis. [13] In addition, the SI covers five reviews (Table 2) [10,[22][23][24][25]. These 16 excellent papers were published as detailed in Tables 1 and 2.…”

Protection of primary cilia is an effective countermeasure against the impairment of osteoblast function induced by simulated microgravity

“…Gravitational unloading due to microgravity has brought many negative effects on the body, including bone and muscle loss, cardiovascular dysfunction, malfunction in the nervous system and impaired immune function. [1][2][3] Bone is very sensitive to mechanical stimulation [4][5][6] and microgravity in space causes a reduction in the mass of load-bearing bone, which is difficult to recover after the astronauts return to earth. 7,8 It was reported that 92% of the crew members of the Mir Space Station and the International Space Station (ISS) experienced a minimum 5% loss in at least one skeletal site and over 40% experienced a 10% or greater loss in at least one skeletal site.…”

“…Despite the rapid development in space exploration and the space industry, there are still many associated health problems of astronauts and cosmonauts waiting to be resolved before the space travel dream can be realized. Gravitational unloading due to microgravity has brought many negative effects on the body, including bone and muscle loss, cardiovascular dysfunction, malfunction in the nervous system and impaired immune function 1–3 . Bone is very sensitive to mechanical stimulation 4–6 and microgravity in space causes a reduction in the mass of load‐bearing bone, which is difficult to recover after the astronauts return to earth 7,8 .…”