To boldly go where no microRNAs have gone before: spaceflight impact on risk for small-for-gestational-age infants
In the era of renewed space exploration, comprehending the effects of the space environment on human health, particularly for deep space missions, is crucial. While extensive research exists on the impacts of spaceflight, there is a gap regarding female reproductive risks. We hypothesize that space stressors could have enduring effects on female health, potentially increasing risks for future pregnancies upon return to Earth, particularly related to small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses. To address this, we identify a shared microRNA (miRNA) signature between SGA and the space environment, conserved across humans and mice. These miRNAs target genes and pathways relevant to diseases and development. Employing a machine learning approach, we identify potential FDA-approved drugs to mitigate these risks, including estrogen and progesterone receptor antagonists, vitamin D receptor antagonists, and DNA polymerase inhibitors. This study underscores potential pregnancy-related health risks for female astronauts and proposes pharmaceutical interventions to counteract the impact of space travel on female health.
Authors
- Lauren Sanders (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9393-0861)
- Francisco J. Enguita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8072-8557)
- Ryan T. Scott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0654-5661)
- Andrea Magrini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3539-149X)
- Joseph W. Guarnieri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7802-7826)
- Lawrence I. Grossman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1059-9358)
- Matías Fuentealba (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7353-4394)
- JangKeun Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8733-9925)
- Amber M. Paul (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1657-3618)
- Cassandra M. Juran
- Chandan K. Sen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3151-5202)
- David Furman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3654-9519)
- Massimo Bottini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9237-8972)
- Sylvain V. Costes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8542-2389)
- Afshin Beheshti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4643-531X)
- Diego Galeano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1748-7148)
- Christopher E. Mason (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1850-1642)
- Jean Calleja‐Agius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6369-0297)
- Kanhaiya Singh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4126-9618)
- Giada Corti
Institutions
- Broad Institute (US)
- University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT)
- Ames Research Center (US)
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (US)
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging (US)
- University of Lisbon (PT)
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- Wayne State University (US)
- University of Malta (MT)
- Cornell University (US)
- Blue Marble Space (US)
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science (US)
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (US)
- Weill Cornell Medicine (US)
- Universidad Nacional de Asunción (PY)
- Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (US)
- Stanford University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Biology
- Published
- 2024-10-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06944-6
- Citations
- 8
- Primary Topic
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 8.87
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Gastro-Intestinal Research Foundation
- National Research Foundation
- Nuclear Safety and Security Commission
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- National Institutes of Health
- Ames Research Center
- Biological and Physical Sciences Division