Findings from recent studies by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency examining musculoskeletal atrophy in space and on Earth

The musculoskeletal system provides the body with correct posture, support, stability, and mobility. It is composed of the bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and other connective tissues. Without effective countermeasures, prolonged spaceflight under microgravity results in marke...

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Published inNPJ microgravity Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 18
Main Authors Furukawa, Satoshi, Chatani, Masahiro, Higashitani, Atsushi, Higashibata, Akira, Kawano, Fuminori, Nikawa, Takeshi, Numaga-Tomita, Takuro, Ogura, Toshihiko, Sato, Fuminori, Sehara-Fujisawa, Atsuko, Shinohara, Masahiro, Shimazu, Toru, Takahashi, Satoru, Watanabe-Takano, Haruko
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Nature Publishing Group UK 26.05.2021
Nature Publishing Group
Nature Portfolio
Subjects
631/80
692/4017
Age
Applied Microbiology
Atrophy
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biotechnology
Cartilage
Classical and Continuum Physics
Connective tissues
Exploration
Immunology
Life Sciences
Microgravity
Muscles
Musculoskeletal system
Posture
Review
Review Article
Space Exploration and Astronautics
Space flight
Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics
Tendons
Japan
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Summary:The musculoskeletal system provides the body with correct posture, support, stability, and mobility. It is composed of the bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and other connective tissues. Without effective countermeasures, prolonged spaceflight under microgravity results in marked muscle and bone atrophy. The molecular and physiological mechanisms of this atrophy under unloaded conditions are gradually being revealed through spaceflight experiments conducted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency using a variety of model organisms, including both aquatic and terrestrial animals, and terrestrial experiments conducted under the Living in Space project of the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. Increasing our knowledge in this field will lead not only to an understanding of how to prevent muscle and bone atrophy in humans undergoing long-term space voyages but also to an understanding of countermeasures against age-related locomotive syndrome in the elderly.
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ISSN:2373-8065
2373-8065
DOI:10.1038/s41526-021-00145-9