To boldly go where no microRNAs have gone before: spaceflight impact on risk for small-for-gestational-age infants

Abstract 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 th...

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Main Authors: Giada Corti, JangKeun Kim, Francisco J. Enguita, Joseph W. Guarnieri, Lawrence I. Grossman, Sylvain V. Costes, Matias Fuentealba, Ryan T. Scott, Andrea Magrini, Lauren M. Sanders, Kanhaiya Singh, Chandan K. Sen, Cassandra M. Juran, Amber M. Paul, David Furman, Jean Calleja-Agius, Christopher E. Mason, Diego Galeano, Massimo Bottini, Afshin Beheshti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-10-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06944-6
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author Giada Corti
JangKeun Kim
Francisco J. Enguita
Joseph W. Guarnieri
Lawrence I. Grossman
Sylvain V. Costes
Matias Fuentealba
Ryan T. Scott
Andrea Magrini
Lauren M. Sanders
Kanhaiya Singh
Chandan K. Sen
Cassandra M. Juran
Amber M. Paul
David Furman
Jean Calleja-Agius
Christopher E. Mason
Diego Galeano
Massimo Bottini
Afshin Beheshti
author_facet Giada Corti
JangKeun Kim
Francisco J. Enguita
Joseph W. Guarnieri
Lawrence I. Grossman
Sylvain V. Costes
Matias Fuentealba
Ryan T. Scott
Andrea Magrini
Lauren M. Sanders
Kanhaiya Singh
Chandan K. Sen
Cassandra M. Juran
Amber M. Paul
David Furman
Jean Calleja-Agius
Christopher E. Mason
Diego Galeano
Massimo Bottini
Afshin Beheshti
author_sort Giada Corti
collection DOAJ
description Abstract 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.
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spelling doaj-art-2fb443a48dab4d80aae577d65caefa4a2025-08-20T02:17:46ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-10-017112210.1038/s42003-024-06944-6To boldly go where no microRNAs have gone before: spaceflight impact on risk for small-for-gestational-age infantsGiada Corti0JangKeun Kim1Francisco J. Enguita2Joseph W. Guarnieri3Lawrence I. Grossman4Sylvain V. Costes5Matias Fuentealba6Ryan T. Scott7Andrea Magrini8Lauren M. Sanders9Kanhaiya Singh10Chandan K. Sen11Cassandra M. Juran12Amber M. Paul13David Furman14Jean Calleja-Agius15Christopher E. Mason16Diego Galeano17Massimo Bottini18Afshin Beheshti19Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor VergataDepartment of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell MedicineInstituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de LisboaCenter for Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine, Division of Human Genetics, The Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaCenter for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of MedicineSpace Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research CenterBuck Institute for Research on AgingKBR, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research CenterDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor VergataSpace Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research CenterMcGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of PittsburghMcGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of PittsburghBlue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research CenterBlue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research CenterBuck Institute for Research on AgingDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of MaltaDepartment of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell MedicineFacultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, MF9M + 958Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor VergataMcGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of PittsburghAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06944-6
spellingShingle Giada Corti
JangKeun Kim
Francisco J. Enguita
Joseph W. Guarnieri
Lawrence I. Grossman
Sylvain V. Costes
Matias Fuentealba
Ryan T. Scott
Andrea Magrini
Lauren M. Sanders
Kanhaiya Singh
Chandan K. Sen
Cassandra M. Juran
Amber M. Paul
David Furman
Jean Calleja-Agius
Christopher E. Mason
Diego Galeano
Massimo Bottini
Afshin Beheshti
To boldly go where no microRNAs have gone before: spaceflight impact on risk for small-for-gestational-age infants
Communications Biology
title To boldly go where no microRNAs have gone before: spaceflight impact on risk for small-for-gestational-age infants
title_full To boldly go where no microRNAs have gone before: spaceflight impact on risk for small-for-gestational-age infants
title_fullStr To boldly go where no microRNAs have gone before: spaceflight impact on risk for small-for-gestational-age infants
title_full_unstemmed To boldly go where no microRNAs have gone before: spaceflight impact on risk for small-for-gestational-age infants
title_short To boldly go where no microRNAs have gone before: spaceflight impact on risk for small-for-gestational-age infants
title_sort to boldly go where no micrornas have gone before spaceflight impact on risk for small for gestational age infants
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06944-6
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