Life science experiments performed in space in the ISS/Kibo facility and future research plans

Abstract

Over the past several years, current techniques in molecular biology have been used to perform experiments in space, focusing on the nature and effects of space radiation. In the Japanese ‘Kibo’ facility in the International Space Station (ISS), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has performed five life science experiments since 2009, and two additional experiments are currently in progress. The first life science experiment in space was the ‘Rad Gene’ project, which utilized two human cultured lymphoblastoid cell lines containing a mutated p53 gene (mp53) and a parental wild-type p53 gene (wtp53) respectively. Four parameters were examined: (i) detecting space radiation–induced DSBs by observing γH2AX foci; (ii) observing p53-dependent gene expression during space flight; (iii) observing p53-dependent gene expression after space flight; and (iv) observing the adaptive response in the two cell lines containing the mutated and wild type p53 genes after exposure to space radiation. These observations were completed and have been reported, and this paper is a review of these experiments. In addition, recent new information from space-based experiments involving radiation biology is presented here. These experiments involve human cultured cells, silkworm eggs, mouse embryonic stem cells and mouse eggs in various experiments designed by other principal investigators in the ISS/Kibo. The progress of Japanese science groups involved in these space experiments together with JAXA are also discussed here. The Japanese Society for Biological Sciences in Space (JSBSS), the Utilization Committee of Space Environment Science (UCSES) and the Science Council of Japan (ACJ) have supported these new projects and new experimental facilities in ISS/Kibo. Currently, these organizations are proposing new experiments for the ISS through 2024.

Comparison of biological measurement and physical estimates of space radiation in the International Space Station

“…Several space experiments using frozen mammalian cells were performed. The increase of mutation or DNA damages were detected, but they did not lead to quantitative analyses because of low dose of space radiation ( Ohnishi 2016 ). The chromosome aberration analyses of the astronauts were performed to investigate the DNA damage responses around the flight time on the ISS, revealing the personal difference of pre- and after flight responses and risk of cancers ( Cucinotta et al., 2008 ; George et al., 2013 ).…”

Space Radiobiology

“…Also, ligase activity [204] and DNA replication [208] were not affected. The expression of genes involved in the DNA damage response was altered under microgravity [209][210][211]. Besides these gene expression changes, a growth-stimulating effect of microgravity was observed in many ground-based and space experiments that might contribute to the microgravity effects on the DNA damage response [209].…”

Radiation Medical Countermeasures and Use of EPR Biodosimetry to Facilitate Effectiveness of Applied Clinical Procedures

“…Radiological and nuclear accidents or malicious actions can lead to large amounts of potentially toxic ionizing radiation (IR) and radioactive materials being introduced into the environment [1]. Examples of such accidents are the Chernobyl accident in USSR which occurred on 26th April 1986, and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan that occurred on 11th March 2011 [2][3][4]. In addition, there are a large number of radiological accidents in the past that have exposed significant numbers of people [5][6][7].…”