The application of artificial gravity in medicine and space

Isasi, Eugenia; Isasi, Maria E.; Loon, Jack J. W. A. van

doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.952723

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 68 publications

(79 reference statements)

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“…Intermittent artificial gravity via centrifugation, a multi-system or integrated countermeasure ( Clement and Pavy-Le Traon, 2004 ), has shown to be beneficial in ambulatory ( Evans et al, 2004 ) and bed-rested subjects ( Stenger et al, 2012 ). Our findings on cardiovascular parameters are similar to previous research studies, which have shown a positive effect of centrifugation with improvement of cardiovascular responses to orthostatic stress ( Isasi et al, 2022 ; Goswami et al, 2015 ), especially if centrifugation is combined with exercise ( Greenleaf et al, 1997 ; Iwase et al, 2002 ; Iwase, 2005 ). In the present study, the improvement of cardiovascular markers over time ( Figures 7 , 8 ) showed the effectiveness of the training device in improving the patient’s physical condition.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Rehabilitation assisted by Space technology—A SAHC approach in immobilized patients—A case of stroke

Kourtidou‐Papadeli

Frantzidιs²,

Machairas³

et al. 2023

Front. Physiol.

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Introduction: The idea behind the presentation of this case relates to utilizing space technology in earth applications with mutual benefit for both patients confined to bed and astronauts. Deconditioning and the progressiveness of skeletal muscle loss in the absence of adequate gravity stimulus have been of physiological concern. A robust countermeasure to muscle disuse is still a challenge for both immobilized patients and astronauts in long duration space missions. Researchers in the space medicine field concluded that artificial gravity (AG) produced by short-radius centrifugation on a passive movement therapy device, combined with exercise, has been a robust multi-system countermeasure as it re-introduces an acceleration field and gravity load.Methods: A short-arm human centrifuge (SAHC) alone or combined with exercise was evaluated as a novel, artificial gravity device for an effective rehabilitation strategy in the case of a stroke patient with disability. The results reveal valuable information on an individualized rehabilitation strategy against physiological deconditioning. A 73-year-old woman was suddenly unable to speak, follow directions or move her left arm and leg. She could not walk, and self-care tasks required maximal assistance. Her condition was getting worse over the years, also she was receiving conventional rehabilitation treatment. Intermittent short-arm human centrifuge individualized protocols were applied for 5 months, three times a week, 60 treatments in total.Results: It resulted in significant improvement in her gait, decreased atrophy with less spasticity on the left body side, and ability to walk at least 100 m with a cane. Balance and muscle strength were improved significantly. Cardiovascular parameters improved responding to adaptations to aerobic exercise. Electroencephalography (EEG) showed brain reorganization/plasticity evidenced through functional connectivity alterations and activation in the cortical regions, especially of the precentral and postcentral gyrus. Stroke immobility-related disability was also improved.Discussion: These alterations were attributed to the short-arm human centrifuge intervention. This case study provides novel evidence supporting the use of the short-arm human centrifuge as a promising therapeutic strategy in patients with restricted mobility, with application to astronauts with long-term muscle disuse in space.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Rehabilitation assisted by Space technology—A SAHC approach in immobilized patients—A case of stroke

Kourtidou‐Papadeli

Frantzidιs²,

Machairas³

et al. 2023

Front. Physiol.

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“…In this context, beneficial effects of hypergravity preconditioning on other systems such as the cardiovascular or the musculoskeletal systems shall represent a topic in future studies. On Earth, gravitational therapy as it is already applied for vascular‐based pathologies 27 might strengthen the adaptive immune system which might be advantageous for immune‐depressed patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The implementation of hypergravity was also discussed to have a potential relevance for the therapy of diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases 25,26 . In Uruguay, gravitational therapy with mild hypergravity (up to ~2.5 g ) is applied for more than forty years to alleviate symptoms in patients with vascular‐based pathologies such as coronary artery disease, lymphedema, and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon 27 . Despite these positive effects of mild hypergravity both on μ g ‐mediated deconditioning and human diseases on Earth, the impact on the immune system is less explored.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…25,26 In Uruguay, gravitational therapy with mild hypergravity (up to ~2.5 g) is applied for more than forty years to alleviate symptoms in patients with vascular-based pathologies such as coronary artery disease, lymphedema, and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. 27 Despite these positive effects of mild hypergravity both on μgmediated deconditioning and human diseases on Earth, the impact on the immune system is less explored. By now, the findings derive either from cell culture models or from long-term hypergravity exposure of rodents and the observed effects strongly depend on the experimental model and immune cell subset.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differential effects of hypergravity on immune dysfunctions induced by simulated microgravity

et al. 2023

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Microgravity (μg) is among the major stressors in space causing immune cell dysregulations. These are frequently expressed as increased pro-inflammatory states of monocytes and reduced activation capacities in T cells. Hypergravity (as artificial gravity) has shown to have beneficial effects on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system both as a countermeasure option for μgrelated deconditioning and as "gravitational therapy" on Earth. Since the impact of hypergravity on immune cells is sparsely explored, we investigated if an application of "mild" mechanical loading of 2.8 g is able to avoid or treat μgmediated immune dysregulations. For this, T cell and monocyte activation states and cytokine pattern were first analyzed after whole blood antigen incubation in simulated μg (s-μg) by using the principle of fast clinorotation or in hypergravity. Subsequent hypergravity countermeasure approaches were run at three different sequences: one preconditioning setting, where 2.8 g was applied before s-μg exposure and two therapeutic approaches in which 2.8 g was set either intermediately or at the end of s-μg. In single g-grade exposure experiments, monocyte pro-inflammatory state was enhanced in s-μg and reduced in hypergravity, whereas T cells displayed reduced activation when antigen incubation was performed in s-μg. Hypergravity application in all three sequences did not alleviate the increased pro-inflammatory potential of monocytes. However, in T cells the preconditioning approach restored antigen-induced CD69 expression and IFNγ secretion to 1 g control values and beyond. This in vitro study demonstrates a proof of concept that mild hypergravity is a gravitational preconditioning option to avoid adaptive immune cell dysfunctions induced by (s-)μg and that it may act as a booster of immune cell functions.

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“…Additionally, the use of hypergravity by human centrifugation is routine not only in research, testing and training of fighter pilots and astronauts, but also as a possible countermeasure to treat deconditioning after space flight. Interestingly, hypergravity protocols with therapeutic intent are also being used sporadically to treat various ground-based pathologies, such as peripheral obstructive arteriopathies, coronary artery disease, lymphedema and the Raynaud phenomenon [ 7 ]. Thus, exposure to a hypergravity environment occurs in many fields of human activity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptional Response in Human Jurkat T Lymphocytes to a near Physiological Hypergravity Environment and to One Common in Routine Cell Culture Protocols

Vahlensieck

Thiel

Mosimann

et al. 2023

IJMS

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Cellular effects of hypergravity have been described in many studies. We investigated the transcriptional dynamics in Jurkat T cells between 20 s and 60 min of 9 g hypergravity and characterized a highly dynamic biphasic time course of gene expression response with a transition point between rapid adaptation and long-term response at approximately 7 min. Upregulated genes were shifted towards the center of the nuclei, whereby downregulated genes were shifted towards the periphery. Upregulated gene expression was mostly located on chromosomes 16–22. Protein-coding transcripts formed the majority with more than 90% of all differentially expressed genes and followed a continuous trend of downregulation, whereas retained introns demonstrated a biphasic time-course. The gene expression pattern of hypergravity response was not comparable with other stress factors such as oxidative stress, heat shock or inflammation. Furthermore, we tested a routine centrifugation protocol that is widely used to harvest cells for subsequent RNA analysis and detected a huge impact on the transcriptome compared to non-centrifuged samples, which did not return to baseline within 15 min. Thus, we recommend carefully studying the response of any cell types used for any experiments regarding the hypergravity time and levels applied during cell culture procedures and analysis.

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The application of artificial gravity in medicine and space

Cited by 15 publications

References 68 publications

Rehabilitation assisted by Space technology—A SAHC approach in immobilized patients—A case of stroke

Rehabilitation assisted by Space technology—A SAHC approach in immobilized patients—A case of stroke

Differential effects of hypergravity on immune dysfunctions induced by simulated microgravity

Transcriptional Response in Human Jurkat T Lymphocytes to a near Physiological Hypergravity Environment and to One Common in Routine Cell Culture Protocols

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