2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Plasma cell-free DNA and RNA analysis of astronauts for evaluation of space environmental responses
| Project/Area Number |
20H03234
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 43050:Genome biology-related
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| Research Institution | University of Tsukuba |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
高橋 智 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 教授 (50271896)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | 宇宙環境 / リキッドバイオプシー / オミックス解析 / セルフリーDNA・RNA |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Blood samples were collected from 6 astronauts at 11 time points to compare pre-flight baseline, in-flight and post-flight conditions. Consistent with the report from the Twins Study, we observed a significant increase in cell-free mitochondrial DNA in plasma during space flight. Mitochondria-enriched fractions were isolated by surface markers of extracellular vesicles, and RNA-sequencing was performed. The results showed enrichment of tissue-specific RNAs derived from various tissues including cardiovascular and nervous systems, indicating that these tissues are under metabolic stress in space. These results also established successful monitoring of internal tissues using cfRNA-based liquid biopsies.
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| Free Research Field |
ゲノム生物学
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
宇宙の微小重力環境は、地球生命がこれまで経験したことの無い環境に対してどのように応答するのかを観察できるユニークな条件であり、その応答としてミトコンドリア応答が体内でシステミックに起こることがマウスとヒトの両方で示された。これらの応答はヒトの地上での代謝関連疾患等とも関連していると考えられ、宇宙で顕在化する制御機構が地上での医学や基礎生命科学の進歩に寄与することが期待される。また、本研究で得られた知見はヒトの長期宇宙滞在や月、火星への有人ミッションに向けた宇宙医学研究に寄与する。
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