Space and radiation protection: Scientific requirements for space research

Schimmerling, W.

doi:10.1007/bf01211538

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…During prolonged space missions, astronauts can be exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) from a variety of sources, including galactic cosmic rays and solar protons. Galactic cosmic rays consist mainly of protons, but a small fraction of them are high atomic number (Z) and high energy (E) (HZE) particles [ 1 ]. The linear energy transfer (LET) of protons is low, whereas HZE particles have intermediate and high LET.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low-dose energetic protons induce adaptive and bystander effects that protect human cells against DNA damage caused by a subsequent exposure to energetic iron ions

Buonanno

Toledo

Howell

et al. 2015

Journal of Radiation Research

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During interplanetary missions, astronauts are exposed to mixed types of ionizing radiation. The low ‘flux’ of the high atomic number and high energy (HZE) radiations relative to the higher ‘flux’ of low linear energy transfer (LET) protons makes it highly probable that for any given cell in the body, proton events will precede any HZE event. Whereas progress has been made in our understanding of the biological effects of low-LET protons and high-LET HZE particles, the interplay between the biochemical processes modulated by these radiations is unclear. Here we show that exposure of normal human fibroblasts to a low mean absorbed dose of 20 cGy of 0.05 or 1-GeV protons (LET ∼ 1.25 or 0.2 keV/μm, respectively) protects the irradiated cells (P < 0.0001) against chromosomal damage induced by a subsequent exposure to a mean absorbed dose of 50 cGy from 1 GeV/u iron ions (LET ∼ 151 keV/μm). Surprisingly, unirradiated (i.e. bystander) cells with which the proton-irradiated cells were co-cultured were also significantly protected from the DNA-damaging effects of the challenge dose. The mitigating effect persisted for at least 24 h. These results highlight the interactions of biological effects due to direct cellular traversal by radiation with those due to bystander effects in cell populations exposed to mixed radiation fields. They show that protective adaptive responses can spread from cells targeted by low-LET space radiation to bystander cells in their vicinity. The findings are relevant to understanding the health hazards of space travel.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low-dose energetic protons induce adaptive and bystander effects that protect human cells against DNA damage caused by a subsequent exposure to energetic iron ions

Buonanno

Toledo

Howell

et al. 2015

Journal of Radiation Research

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“…Space environments expose astronauts to a high level of oxidative stress due to extravehicular and intravehicular activities (EVA/IVA) and depend on reduced gravity, ionizing radiation, and variable atmospheric conditions, such as hyper- and hypoxia and psychophysical stress [ 166 , 167 , 168 , 169 ]. In addition, several studies show how astronauts experience immunodeficiency with impairment of NK cells, redox imbalance, elevated inflammation, elevated granulocytes, inhibited lymphocyte proliferation, and reduced lymphocyte functions, as well as elevated inflammation during low-Earth orbit missions [ 170 , 171 , 172 , 173 , 174 ].…”

Section: Spirulina For Astronauts’ Healthcarementioning

confidence: 99%

Wide Range Applications of Spirulina: From Earth to Space Missions

et al. 2022

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Spirulina is the most studied cyanobacterium species for both pharmacological applications and the food industry. The aim of the present review is to summarize the potential benefits of the use of Spirulina for improving healthcare both in space and on Earth. Regarding the first field of application, Spirulina could represent a new technology for the sustainment of long-duration manned missions to planets beyond the Lower Earth Orbit (e.g., Mars); furthermore, it could help astronauts stay healthy while exposed to a variety of stress factors that can have negative consequences even after years. As far as the second field of application, Spirulina could have an active role in various aspects of medicine, such as metabolism, oncology, ophthalmology, central and peripheral nervous systems, and nephrology. The recent findings of the capacity of Spirulina to improve stem cells mobility and to increase immune response have opened new intriguing scenarios in oncological and infectious diseases, respectively.

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“…The exposure to microgravity conditions during space flight is associated with various health risks, which potentially affect the body, making it vulnerable to secondary conditions such as the effects of radiation, physiological changes lysis, neocytolysis, muscle atrophy, hydrostatic pressure changes, and metabolic changes [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. During spaceflight, astronauts are also subjected to a variety of stress factors, such as microgravity conditions and radiation, which lead to negative health consequences [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Behaviour of Human Cell Types under Simulated Microgravity Conditions: The Case of Erythrocytes

Manis

Manca

Murgia

et al. 2022

IJMS

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Erythrocytes are highly specialized cells in human body, and their main function is to ensure the gas exchanges, O2 and CO2, within the body. The exposure to microgravity environment leads to several health risks such as those affecting red blood cells. In this work, we investigated the changes that occur in the structure and function of red blood cells under simulated microgravity, compared to terrestrial conditions, at different time points using biochemical and biophysical techniques. Erythrocytes exposed to simulated microgravity showed morphological changes, a constant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), a significant reduction in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), a remarkable and constant decrease in total glutathione (GSH) concentration, and an augmentation in malondialdehyde (MDA) at increasing times. Moreover, experiments were performed to evaluate the lipid profile of erythrocyte membranes which showed an upregulation in the following membrane phosphocholines (PC): PC16:0_16:0, PC 33:5, PC18:2_18:2, PC 15:1_20:4 and SM d42:1. Thus, remarkable changes in erythrocyte cytoskeletal architecture and membrane stiffness due to oxidative damage have been found under microgravity conditions, in addition to factors that contribute to the plasticity of the red blood cells (RBCs) including shape, size, cell viscosity and membrane rigidity. This study represents our first investigation into the effects of microgravity on erythrocytes and will be followed by other experiments towards understanding the behaviour of different human cell types in microgravity.

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Space and radiation protection: Scientific requirements for space research

Cited by 20 publications

References 10 publications

Low-dose energetic protons induce adaptive and bystander effects that protect human cells against DNA damage caused by a subsequent exposure to energetic iron ions

Low-dose energetic protons induce adaptive and bystander effects that protect human cells against DNA damage caused by a subsequent exposure to energetic iron ions

Wide Range Applications of Spirulina: From Earth to Space Missions

Understanding the Behaviour of Human Cell Types under Simulated Microgravity Conditions: The Case of Erythrocytes

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