New study shows damage from cosmic radiation, microgravity could be ‘catastrophic’ for human body
LONDON — As humanity sets its sights on deep space missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, a team of international researchers has uncovered a potential problem lurking in the shadows of these ambitious plans: spaceflight-induced kidney damage.
The findings, in a nutshell
In a new study that integrated a dizzying array of cutting-edge scientific techniques, researchers from University College London found that exposure to the unique stressors of spaceflight — such as microgravity and galactic cosmic radiation — can lead to serious, potentially irreversible kidney problems in astronauts.
This sobering discovery, published in Nature Communications, not only highlights the immense challenges of long-duration space travel but also underscores the urgent need for effective countermeasures to protect the health of future space explorers.
“If we don’t develop new ways to protect the kidneys, I’d say that while an astronaut could make it to Mars they might need dialysis on the way back,” says the study’s first author, Dr. Keith Siew, from the London Tubular Centre, based at the UCL Department of Renal Medicine, in a media release. “We know that the kidneys are late to show signs of radiation damage; by the time this becomes apparent it’s probably too late to prevent failure, which would be catastrophic for the mission’s chances of success.”
Methodology
To unravel the complex effects of spaceflight on the kidneys, the researchers analyzed a treasure trove of biological samples and data from 11 different mouse missions, five human spaceflights, one simulated microgravity experiment in rats, and four studies exposing mice to simulated galactic cosmic radiation on Earth.
The team left no stone unturned, employing a comprehensive “pan-omics” approach that included epigenomics (studying changes in gene regulation), transcriptomics (examining gene expression), proteomics (analyzing protein levels), epiproteomics (investigating protein modifications), metabolomics (measuring metabolite profiles), and metagenomics (exploring the microbiome). They also pored over clinical chemistry data (electrolytes, hormones, biochemical markers), assessed kidney function, and scrutinized kidney structure and morphology using advanced histology, 3D imaging, and in situ hybridization techniques.
By integrating and cross-referencing these diverse datasets, the researchers were able to paint a remarkably detailed and coherent picture of how spaceflight stressors impact the kidneys at multiple biological levels, from individual molecules to whole organ structure and function.