1. Release of CD36-associated cell-free mitochondrial DNA and RNA as a hallmark of space environment response.
- Author
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Husna, Nailil, Aiba, Tatsuya, Fujita, Shin-Ichiro, Saito, Yoshika, Shiba, Dai, Kudo, Takashi, Takahashi, Satoru, Furukawa, Satoshi, and Muratani, Masafumi
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SPACE environment ,MITOCHONDRIAL RNA ,SPACE exploration ,CIRCULATING tumor DNA ,HUMAN space flight ,EXTRACELLULAR vesicles - Abstract
A detailed understanding of how spaceflight affects human health is essential for long-term space exploration. Liquid biopsies allow for minimally-invasive multi-omics assessments that can resolve the molecular heterogeneity of internal tissues. Here, we report initial results from the JAXA Cell-Free Epigenome Study, a liquid biopsy study with six astronauts who resided on the International Space Station (ISS) for more than 120 days. Analysis of plasma cell-free RNA (cfRNA) collected before, during, and after spaceflight confirms previously reported mitochondrial dysregulation in space. Screening with 361 cell surface marker antibodies identifies a mitochondrial DNA-enriched fraction associated with the scavenger receptor CD36. RNA-sequencing of the CD36 fraction reveals tissue-enriched RNA species, suggesting the plasma mitochondrial components originated from various tissues. We compare our plasma cfRNA data to mouse plasma cfRNA data from a previous JAXA mission, which had used on-board artificial gravity, and discover a link between microgravity and the observed mitochondrial responses. It has been reported that a spaceflight causes mitochondrial stress in astronauts. Here the authors suggest that mitochondrial components are released into the plasma during spaceflight as components of CD36-marked extracellular vesicles (EVs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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