Spaceflight induced changes in the human proteome

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Spaceflight is one of the most extreme conditions encountered by humans: Individuals are exposed to radiation, microgravity, hypodynamia, and will experience isolation. A better understanding of the molecular processes induced by these factors may allow us to develop personalized countermeasures to minimize risks to astronauts.

Areas covered: This review is a summary of literature searches from PubMed, NASA, Roskosmos and the authors’ research experiences and opinions. The review covers the available proteomic data on the effects of spaceflight factors on the human body, including both real space missions and ground-based model experiments.

Expert commentary: Overall, the authors believe that the present background, methodology and equipment improvements will enhance spaceflight safety and support accumulation of new knowledge on how organisms adapt to extreme conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Spaceflight
• proteomics
• extreme conditions
• human proteome
• MARS 500
• bed rest study
• dry immersion
• microgravity
• spaceflight simulation

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

E. N. Nikolaev, I. M. Larina, A. S. Kononikhin and N. L. Starodubtseva gratefully acknowledges support from the Russian Science Foundation (grant 14-24-00114 in sections 1 and 3). A.S. Kononikhin gratefully acknowledges support from the Russian Science Foundation (grant number 16-14-00181 in section 2.2). N. L Starodubsteva, L. Kh. Pastushkova, D. N. Kashirina, A.G. Brhozovsky and I. M. Larina gratefully acknowledges support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant numbers 14-08-01236 A, 15-04-02463 А in section 2.1, 2.3).