Towards human exploration of space: the THESEUS review series on cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal research priorities

Abstract

International audienceThe THESEUS project (Towards Human Exploration of Space: aEUropean Strategy) was initiated within the seventh FrameworkProgramme by the European Commission. This project aimed toprovide a cross-cutting, life science-based roadmap for Europe’sstrategy towards human exploration of space, especially for deepspace missions and its relevance to applications on Earth. Toaddress these challenges, relevance of space research on thecardiovascular system, the lungs and kidneys, was discussed in anexpert group and its principal conclusions will be presented in thisarticle

Adaptation of the cardiovascular system to weightlessness: Surprises, paradoxes and implications for deep space missions

“…Because of the recently renewed interest in understanding the chronic headward fluid shift in space and its impact on human physiology and health, this review will among several things focus on the history surrounding characterization and quantification of it, and how the human cardiovascular system adapts to this condition. Since the comprehensive review by Aubert et al on cardiovascular, respiratory and renal research priorities for future spaceflight was published, new cardiovascular insight has been gained, and this review aims at presenting and putting it into perspective. Some paradoxes and surprises will be described such as the effects of weightlessness on the thoracic cage that affects CVP and cardiac preload and the rather high efferent sympathetic nervous drive that occurs simultaneously with the headward fluid shift and chronic systemic vasodilation .…”

Editorial: Physiology in Extreme Conditions: Adaptations and Unexpected Reactions

“…Space is another type of special environment that requires extreme changes and adaptations for living organisms (plants, animals, and human beings). Space flight imposes constraints on the body of highly selected, well-trained and healthy subjects (Aubert et al, 2016 ; Bergouignan et al, 2016 ). In particular, the pathophysiological adaptive changes resemble an accelerated aging process and relate with some disease processes (Fitts et al, 2000 ; Vernikos and Schneider, 2010 ).…”

Ergonomic Challenges for Astronauts during Space Travel and the Need for Space Medicine

“…Accompanied by an executive summary and commentary, it remains the most current and comprehensive report on sex and gender differences related to human physiology and psychology in spaceflight and on Earth. There have been a number of excellent reviews [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] in many areas of human physiology and in the next section, I will provide a brief and up to date review some of consequences of space travel on human physiology and draw where possible on non-clinical studies in cell culture in vitro and in animal models which may help to build a picture of our current knowledge and the gaps that remain in our understanding.…”

“…The effects of gravity on bone and soft tissue loss associated with space flight have been very recently reviewed as part of an advisory group supporting Towards Human Exploration of Space: a European Strategy (THESEUS) [5,10]. The central issue is whether the countermeasures such as regular high-intensity resistance training and the use of anti-resorptive drugs taken by patients with osteoporosis on Earth [8,35,36] ameliorate bone and muscle loss to a level acceptable to sustain longer term space travel and in the first place return to Earth.…”

“…Blood pressure is perturbed as a consequence of astronaut positional change and microgravity [5,37]. Cardiac electrical rhythm disturbances have been documented since the Apollo 15 missions as have non-fatal arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation in astronauts returning to Earth [38].…”