Microgravity and Human Body: Unraveling the Potential Role of Heat-Shock Proteins in Spaceflight and Future Space Missions
In recent years, the increasing number of long-duration space missions has prompted the scientific community to undertake a more comprehensive examination of the impact of microgravity on the human body during spaceflight. This review aims to assess the current knowledge regarding the consequences o...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Olga Maria Manna Stefano Burgio Domiziana Picone Adelaide Carista Alessandro Pitruzzella Alberto Fucarino Fabio Bucchieri |
| author_facet | Olga Maria Manna Stefano Burgio Domiziana Picone Adelaide Carista Alessandro Pitruzzella Alberto Fucarino Fabio Bucchieri |
| author_sort | Olga Maria Manna |
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| description | In recent years, the increasing number of long-duration space missions has prompted the scientific community to undertake a more comprehensive examination of the impact of microgravity on the human body during spaceflight. This review aims to assess the current knowledge regarding the consequences of exposure to an extreme environment, like microgravity, on the human body, focusing on the role of heat-shock proteins (HSPs). Previous studies have demonstrated that long-term exposure to microgravity during spaceflight can cause various changes in the human body, such as muscle atrophy, changes in muscle fiber composition, cardiovascular function, bone density, and even immune system functions. It has been postulated that heat-shock proteins (HSPs) may play a role in mitigating the harmful effects of microgravity-induced stress. According to past studies, heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are upregulated under simulated microgravity conditions. This upregulation assists in the maintenance of the proper folding and function of other proteins during stressful conditions, thereby safeguarding the physiological systems of organisms from the detrimental effects of microgravity. HSPs could also be used as biomarkers to assess the level of cellular stress in tissues and cells exposed to microgravity. Therefore, modulation of HSPs by drugs and genetic or environmental techniques could prove to be a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce the negative physiological consequences of long-duration spaceflight in astronauts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-24c2cc25eea04ae89d28ae96dfe7c7e0 |
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| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-24c2cc25eea04ae89d28ae96dfe7c7e02025-08-20T02:28:11ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372024-11-01131192110.3390/biology13110921Microgravity and Human Body: Unraveling the Potential Role of Heat-Shock Proteins in Spaceflight and Future Space MissionsOlga Maria Manna0Stefano Burgio1Domiziana Picone2Adelaide Carista3Alessandro Pitruzzella4Alberto Fucarino5Fabio Bucchieri6Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, ItalyEuro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), 90146 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, 22060 Novedrate, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, ItalyIn recent years, the increasing number of long-duration space missions has prompted the scientific community to undertake a more comprehensive examination of the impact of microgravity on the human body during spaceflight. This review aims to assess the current knowledge regarding the consequences of exposure to an extreme environment, like microgravity, on the human body, focusing on the role of heat-shock proteins (HSPs). Previous studies have demonstrated that long-term exposure to microgravity during spaceflight can cause various changes in the human body, such as muscle atrophy, changes in muscle fiber composition, cardiovascular function, bone density, and even immune system functions. It has been postulated that heat-shock proteins (HSPs) may play a role in mitigating the harmful effects of microgravity-induced stress. According to past studies, heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are upregulated under simulated microgravity conditions. This upregulation assists in the maintenance of the proper folding and function of other proteins during stressful conditions, thereby safeguarding the physiological systems of organisms from the detrimental effects of microgravity. HSPs could also be used as biomarkers to assess the level of cellular stress in tissues and cells exposed to microgravity. Therefore, modulation of HSPs by drugs and genetic or environmental techniques could prove to be a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce the negative physiological consequences of long-duration spaceflight in astronauts.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/11/921heat-shock proteinsmicrogravityspace medicine |
| spellingShingle | Olga Maria Manna Stefano Burgio Domiziana Picone Adelaide Carista Alessandro Pitruzzella Alberto Fucarino Fabio Bucchieri Microgravity and Human Body: Unraveling the Potential Role of Heat-Shock Proteins in Spaceflight and Future Space Missions Biology heat-shock proteins microgravity space medicine |
| title | Microgravity and Human Body: Unraveling the Potential Role of Heat-Shock Proteins in Spaceflight and Future Space Missions |
| title_full | Microgravity and Human Body: Unraveling the Potential Role of Heat-Shock Proteins in Spaceflight and Future Space Missions |
| title_fullStr | Microgravity and Human Body: Unraveling the Potential Role of Heat-Shock Proteins in Spaceflight and Future Space Missions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microgravity and Human Body: Unraveling the Potential Role of Heat-Shock Proteins in Spaceflight and Future Space Missions |
| title_short | Microgravity and Human Body: Unraveling the Potential Role of Heat-Shock Proteins in Spaceflight and Future Space Missions |
| title_sort | microgravity and human body unraveling the potential role of heat shock proteins in spaceflight and future space missions |
| topic | heat-shock proteins microgravity space medicine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/11/921 |
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