FLUMIAS-ISS Project

This project will utilize a novel new fluorescent microscopy facility (FLUMIAS-ISS) on the International Space Station to examine the role that hydrogen peroxide plays in loss of muscle mass in microgravity and the way this relates to the processes of muscle loss in the elderly on earth.

Objective

The overall objective of the study is to determine how the structure and distribution of mitochondria change and their rates of generation of hydrogen peroxide change in muscle cells from adult and elderly subjects, and to examine the changes that occur in muscle cells during exposure to microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS) using the state-of-the-art, FLUMIAS fluorescent microscope facility.

Aims

1. Determine whether adult muscle cells exposed to microgravity on the ISS, or muscle cells from elderly subjects are associated with a specific increase in the intracellular concentration of hydrogen peroxide.
2. Determine whether mitochondria are the main source of the increased hydrogen peroxide that occurs with microgravity and in ageing.
3. Determine how exposure to microgravity on the ISS and ageing affect the structure of the mitochondria and distribution in skeletal muscle cells.
4. Determine whether the effects of microgravity on muscle H₂O₂ and mitochondrial structure and distribution seen on the ISS can be reversed by exposure to an artificial gravity induced by centrifugation.

These studies will build on our extensive experience of studying ROS in muscle loss and weakness, new developments in human muscle cell culture models for studies in microgravity and use of state-of-the-art fluorescent probes to study sub-cellular processes in muscle.

On completion we will understand the role that H₂O₂ plays in loss of muscle mass in microgravity and how this relates to the processes of muscle loss in the elderly on earth.