December New study unveils key insights into muscle atrophy during space flight

Findings will aid space exploration and earth health

A groundbreaking study by researchers from University of Galway, in collaboration with Arizona State University, has revealed vital molecular insights into muscle atrophy - one of space travel’s most critical health risks.

The findings not only have implications for long-term space missions but can also help with a better understanding of muscle-wasting conditions on Earth.

As space travel becomes more common, the unique environment of microgravity presents challenges to the body, particularly affecting muscles, bones, and the immune system. In microgravity, muscles weaken over time, leading to a condition known as muscle atrophy, which is a significant concern for astronauts, especially on longer missions.

The study, published in Nature Microgravity, investigated the molecular changes in muscle atrophy using data from NASA’s GeneLab, an open-access platform for biological spaceflight data.

The research team was led by Professor Lokesh Joshi and Dr Anup Mammen Oommen of the University of Galway and Professor Phil Stafford of Arizona State University.

The team focused on specific genes linked to muscle loss, that helped refine their analysis and find molecular patterns connected to muscle weakening. By grouping genes with similar activity and analysing their functions, the team uncovered key biological pathways linked to muscle breakdown in space.

One of the key findings was the impact of microgravity on glycosylation—a process vital for protein stability. The study found that alterations in glycosylation under microgravity suggest possible strategies to prevent muscle loss in astronauts by targeting these pathways.

Professor Lokesh Joshi, Stokes Professor of Glycosciences of University of Galway, said: “While these findings address a critical issue for space explorers, the implications extend to terrestrial health. Muscle atrophy also affects aging populations, post-menopausal women and patients with chronic illnesses, such as cancer or heart disease. Understanding how muscle loss occurs in space could lead to better treatments for these conditions on Earth.

“This study underscores the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of platforms like NASA’s GeneLab, which enable global researchers to build on each other's work.

“As humanity ventures further into space, ensuring astronaut health remains one of the greatest challenges. These findings represent a significant leap forward in space medicine, with far-reaching benefits for people on Earth as well."

The research methods applied allowed the team to map out the critical pathways involved in muscle deterioration during extended space missions. It also highlighted the role of glycosylation, a type of post-translational modification where sugars are added to molecules like proteins, which helps stabilise them and influence their functions in the body.

This discovery paves the way for potential interventions aimed at mitigating muscle loss in astronauts through the regulation of glycosylation pathways and provides insights for people on Earth who experience muscle atrophy.

The full study in Nature Microgravity is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-024-00434-z

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