Oxidative Stress and Space Biology: An Organ-Based Approach.

Thomas Goodwin,Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou

doi:10.3390/ijms19040959

Abstract

The environment of space provides many challenges to the human physiology and therefore to extended habitation and exploration[...].

Highlights

The environment of space provides many challenges to the human physiology and to extended habitation and exploration
Space flight adaptation syndromes are a product of the environmental conditions and the synergistic reaction of the systemic human physiology, which together combine to produce a combinatorial syndrome that must be resolved in order to safely inhabit and explore space, especially for extended periods [3,4,5,6]
This paper documents an exciting glimpse of current pertinent scientific literature sustaining the involvement of oxidative stress and damage (OSaD) [7,8] as a significant contributing factor in the following areas of Earth-based and space flight-related dysregulation of: (1) bone loss [9,10,11,12,13]; (2) cardiovascular function [14]; (3) immune insufficiency and metabolism [15,16,17]; (4) neurological impairment [18]; and (5) potential countermeasure implementation [18,19]

Summary

Introduction

The environment of space provides many challenges to the human physiology and to extended habitation and exploration. One must seek a “common denominator” that has systemic effects on the function of the entire physiology and stems from both environmental conditions (reduced gravity, radiation, mental and physical stress, etc.) and the byproducts of the human systems biology (reduction oxidation (REDOX)) equilibrium, free radical balance, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS). One such common denominator is the stabilization of physiological homeostasis and control of OSaD in the body [7,8,20]. OSaD control/REDOX homeostasis encompasses many aspects of the human physiological response to the space environment and if mitigated properly may normalize a portion of the adverse phenomena seen in space flight combinatorial events and suggest relevant countermeasures for those situations, increasing the level of safety and occupational health for each crew member during long duration flight and facilitate improved performance during exploration class missions

Overview

Findings

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