Nature Communications (Jun 2024)

Space radiation damage rescued by inhibition of key spaceflight associated miRNAs

  • J. Tyson McDonald,
  • JangKeun Kim,
  • Lily Farmerie,
  • Meghan L. Johnson,
  • Nidia S. Trovao,
  • Shehbeel Arif,
  • Keith Siew,
  • Sergey Tsoy,
  • Yaron Bram,
  • Jiwoon Park,
  • Eliah Overbey,
  • Krista Ryon,
  • Jeffrey Haltom,
  • Urminder Singh,
  • Francisco J. Enguita,
  • Victoria Zaksas,
  • Joseph W. Guarnieri,
  • Michael Topper,
  • Douglas C. Wallace,
  • Cem Meydan,
  • Stephen Baylin,
  • Robert Meller,
  • Masafumi Muratani,
  • D. Marshall Porterfield,
  • Brett Kaufman,
  • Marcelo A. Mori,
  • Stephen B. Walsh,
  • Dominique Sigaudo-Roussel,
  • Saida Mebarek,
  • Massimo Bottini,
  • Christophe A. Marquette,
  • Eve Syrkin Wurtele,
  • Robert E. Schwartz,
  • Diego Galeano,
  • Christopher E. Mason,
  • Peter Grabham,
  • Afshin Beheshti

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48920-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 23

Abstract

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Abstract Our previous research revealed a key microRNA signature that is associated with spaceflight that can be used as a biomarker and to develop countermeasure treatments to mitigate the damage caused by space radiation. Here, we expand on this work to determine the biological factors rescued by the countermeasure treatment. We performed RNA-sequencing and transcriptomic analysis on 3D microvessel cell cultures exposed to simulated deep space radiation (0.5 Gy of Galactic Cosmic Radiation) with and without the antagonists to three microRNAs: miR-16-5p, miR-125b-5p, and let-7a-5p (i.e., antagomirs). Significant reduction of inflammation and DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) activity and rescue of mitochondria functions are observed after antagomir treatment. Using data from astronaut participants in the NASA Twin Study, Inspiration4, and JAXA missions, we reveal the genes and pathways implicated in the action of these antagomirs are altered in humans. Our findings indicate a countermeasure strategy that can potentially be utilized by astronauts in spaceflight missions to mitigate space radiation damage.