An experimental treatment administered to mice aboard the International Space Station largely prevented the bone loss associated with time spent in space, researchers found.
Microgravity-induced bone loss has long been a critical concern in planning for long-term space missions. Decreased weight-bearing due to microgravity induces bone loss at a rate 12-times greater than on Earth, increasing astronauts’ risk for fractures during their missions and afterward.
“Our findings hold tremendous promise for the future of space exploration, particularly for missions involving extended stays in microgravity,” study leader Dr. Chia Soo of UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine said in a statement.
Astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fisher treated mice that stayed aboard the ISS for nine weeks or 4.5 weeks with injections of a special formulation of a molecule called NELL-1 – a combination of a protein and a carbohydrate important for bone development and bone density maintenance – or a placebo. NELL-1 has also been shown to prompt regeneration of bone and cartilage.
Another group of mice that remained on Earth also received the drug or a placebo.
Both the mice in space and those on the ground showed significant increases in bone formation when treated with the drug, with no apparent adverse health effects, the researchers reported on Monday in npj Microgravity.
“If human studies bear this out, BP-NELL-PEG could be a promising tool to combat bone loss and musculoskeletal deterioration, especially when conventional resistance training is not feasible due to injuries or other incapacitating factors,” study co-leader Kang Ting of the Forsyth Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts said in a statement.
The treatment may also benefit patients on Earth who suffer from extreme osteoporosis and other bone-related conditions, the researchers added.
This newsletter was edited by Bill Berkrot. Additional reporting by Shawana Alleyne-Morris.
