Intergalactic Interactions - Network Biology in Rodents from Spaceflight and Terra Firma

Abstract

This study, utilizing data from the NASA Gene Lab Data Repository, investigates the impact of spaceflight on rodents, analyzing changes in lung, colorectal, and skin tissues. We examined RNA-seq data from rodents that had experienced space flight, comparing them with control groups that remained on Earth. Our focus was to better decipher the molecular alterations induced by the unique conditions of space. A comprehensive initial cohort of rodents was selected, ensuring the integrity and completeness of genomic data. We employed Proteinarium, a sophisticated multi-sample analysis tool, to explore and compare protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks between space flight-exposed and control rodents. This approach allowed us to identify significant clusters and distinct PPI networks in the space flight group, which were not present in the control group. Our results revealed that space flight leads to unique molecular changes, with certain genes becoming upregulated in response to the extraterrestrial environment. These changes were tissue-specific, indicating varied physiological responses across different organ systems. We also identified distinct gene hub targets for drug repurposing, which could be evaluated in future studies. The present study contributes to a deeper understanding of how spaceflight affects living organisms at the molecular level, providing insights that could inform future space missions and enhance our knowledge of biological systems in spaceflight environments.