Station Science Top News: Dec. 16, 2021
NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor provides a saliva sample on the International Space Station. Her sample will be used to measure stress hormones and other biomarkers of health that can reveal how her immune system changes in space. Credits: NASA
Since 2016, scientists have been analyzing astronaut blood, urine, and saliva samples for the International Space Station Functional Immune study to better understand how our immune system responds to space. Results of the study may help determine whether certain countermeasures, such as immune boosters, will be needed on missions to the Moon and Mars.
On Earth, a human body with a properly functioning immune system will work to overcome an infection. In space, that same immune system must work harder to overcome the same infection due to the unique environment. By analyzing samples from before, during, and after flight, scientists are getting a full picture of how the human body changes in orbit. Researchers are looking for markers of immune health — like evidence of reactivated viruses and specific stress hormones in the samples. On Earth, techniques used in the study could help monitor immune responses in cancer patients and others with compromised immune systems. The investigation is expected to finish by the end of 2021.
Learn more about the Functional Immune study.
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Results from the Multi-Omics-Mouse (MHU-2) investigation found that mice sent to the space station experienced a drop in sulfur-containing antioxidants in their liver. This knowledge gives us a better understanding of how to mitigate liver damage caused by the spaceflight environment.
MHU-2 examined the impact of spaceflight on the liver by analyzing the sulfur-containing antioxidants in the livers of mice in microgravity, artificial gravity, and Earth gravity. After a short period of time aboard the space station, station mice showed an overall decrease of sulfur-containing antioxidants relative to the artificial-gravity and Earth-gravity mice. Additionally, analysis showed that certain gene expression pathways — or how a gene contributes to an organism’s biological processes — related to sulfur were different between those in microgravity versus those in Earth gravity. A lowering of sulfur compounds in the liver is associated with chronic liver disease and liver regeneration failure. The researchers conclude that this lowering of sulfur-compound levels in space contributes to liver damage after spaceflight.
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Space exploration requires astronauts to maintain a high level of cognitive performance in the presence of conditions that can cause fatigue, but there have been limited neurocognitive assessment tools available for use in space. The Cognition study tested a new cognitive assessment software and found that more than 95% of participants reported it to be a helpful tool for spaceflight operations.
Researchers performed a user-experience assessment of the neuropsychological test series, Cognition, for use in space. A trial of 10 cognition tests was conducted with astronauts aboard the International Space Station, astronauts in training, and comparable participants at various analog research centers. Most participants found the software usable and polished. Despite some of the tests being labeled as difficult and frustrating, most participants looked forward to the fun challenge. About 86% of the participants’ comments throughout the study were coded as positive or neutral.