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- Bion to help: scientists have tested a remedy for cosmic radiation on a biosatellite
Bion to help: scientists have tested a remedy for cosmic radiation on a biosatellite
During the mission of the Bion-M biosatellite No. 2, which flew in low-Earth orbit for a month, Russian scientists tested an innovative pharmaceutical preparation for protection from cosmic radiation. It activates the expression of the Nrf2 gene, which in the mammalian body is responsible for the functioning of defense systems against oxidative stress. The effect of the drug was tested on laboratory mice. In the future, it will help to preserve the health of astronauts during long—term interplanetary flights, as well as in the future when people work on other planets.
How radiation affects astronauts' health
On Friday, September 19, the descent module of the Bion-M biosatellite No. 2, a spacecraft that flew around the planet in a near—polar orbit for a month, is expected to return to Earth. During the mission, scientists from the Institute of Biomedical Problems, together with the state corporation Roscosmos, tested the effect of the new drug Omevaxolone on laboratory mice.
It activates the expression of the Nrf2 gene, which in the mammalian body is responsible for the functioning of protection systems against oxidative stress, which occurs due to the formation of reactive oxygen species (toxic substances that cause cell damage) under the influence of cosmic radiation.
The results of the experiment will help create a medicine that will reduce the effects of cosmic radiation on people during long-term space flights and stays on other planets.
— Humanity has confidently mastered the Earth's orbit and is striving for other planets. Unlike in low-Earth orbit, where astronauts are protected by the Earth's magnetic belts, the crews of interplanetary ships will be exposed to cosmic radiation. The Bion-M flight No. 2 took place in a high—latitude orbit, which is closer to interplanetary space in terms of the spectrum of cosmic radiation than orbits with a lower inclination, on which, for example, the International Space Station flies," Alexander Andreev-Andrievsky, head of the Laboratory of Animal Phenotyping at the IMBP RAS, explained to Izvestia.
Launch of the Soyuz-2-1b launch vehicle with the Bion-M spacecraft
According to him, in the area of the Earth's poles, radiation is 30% higher than at low latitudes. In addition, there are more high-energy galactic particles in this region of space. Therefore, an autonomous space mission will allow us to obtain exceptional scientific data that will later be used to ensure human medical and biological safety in deep space.
How to reduce the harmful effects of cosmic radiation
According to the scientist, one of the tasks that specialists solved during the Bion-M mission No. 2 is to study the role of the Nrf2 gene and the natural systems regulated by it in space conditions. As well as the possibility of deliberate activation of these mechanisms through pharmaceutical preparations.
— During the biosatellite flight, 75 laboratory mice of the C57BL/6 line were on board. To study the new drug, some of them were divided into three groups. The first are knockout mice in which the Nrf2 gene is "turned off" by genetic manipulation. They are highly sensitive to the effects of space flight factors. The second are ordinary animals. The third group received the drug Omevaxolone, which activates the expression of the Nrf2 gene and stimulates the work of antioxidant systems," explained Alexander Andreev-Andrievsky.
Comparing these three groups of mice will make it possible to understand how targeted expression of the Nrf2 gene and stimulation of antioxidant systems will help preserve the health of astronauts during long—term flights between planets, and in the future, when people work on other planets. According to the scientist, such studies on biosatellites were conducted for the first time in the world.
— Omevaxolone is an already registered drug that is used to treat Friedreich's disease, a hereditary disease in which part of the human nervous system is damaged. Therefore, the safety profile, pharmacokinetics, and ways of manufacturing and quality control of the drug are well described. This simplifies the possibilities for expanding the scope of its application," Albert Rizvanov, head of the Personalized Medicine Center of Excellence at the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology at Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, explained to Izvestia.
In his opinion, such drugs will be needed not only in the future for a flight to Mars. They are also in demand for earthly realities. For example, to protect healthy tissues during radiation therapy of oncological diseases. The drug will also be useful for maintaining the health of aircraft crews who receive increased doses of cosmic radiation during flights, and employees of enterprises that work with radiation.
In addition to radioprotection, the expert noted, controlled activation of Nrf2 is considered as a promising method for conditions where antioxidant protection is required.
— Today, Bion is a series of the world's only specialized spacecraft for conducting biomedical research of a wide range. Such missions make it possible to accurately plan scientific work on the impact of space on living organisms. And most importantly, the biosatellite can be launched into an orbit other than the ISS, in other conditions of exposure to outer space. And thereby test new hypotheses and test new equipment," said Dmitry Strugovets, an expert in the field of cosmonautics.
It is worth noting, he added, that deep space exploration is impossible without biosatellites. The main threat of long—range space flights is galactic cosmic radiation. These are high-energy charged particles, which are almost impossible to completely protect themselves from. Their effects on living organisms (the risk of cancer, CNS damage, and cardiovascular diseases) are difficult to model in terrestrial laboratories.
At the same time, the expert added, biosatellites are the best available platform for studying how space flight factors multiply the negative effects of each other. For example, how weightlessness affects the ability of cells to repair radiation damage to DNA. In other words, research on biosatellites is critically important for future deep space missions.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
