Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Commun Biol. 2024 Oct 5;7(1):1268. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06944-6.
In the era of renewed space exploration, comprehending the effects of the space environment on human health, particularly for deep space missions, is crucial. While extensive research exists on the impacts of spaceflight, there is a gap regarding female reproductive risks. We hypothesize that space stressors could have enduring effects on female health, potentially increasing risks for future pregnancies upon return to Earth, particularly related to small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses. To address this, we identify a shared microRNA (miRNA) signature between SGA and the space environment, conserved across humans and mice. These miRNAs target genes and pathways relevant to diseases and development. Employing a machine learning approach, we identify potential FDA-approved drugs to mitigate these risks, including estrogen and progesterone receptor antagonists, vitamin D receptor antagonists, and DNA polymerase inhibitors. This study underscores potential pregnancy-related health risks for female astronauts and proposes pharmaceutical interventions to counteract the impact of space travel on female health.
在新一轮太空探索的时代，了解太空环境对人类健康的影响至关重要，尤其是对于深空任务而言。尽管已经有大量关于太空飞行影响的研究，但对于女性生殖风险的研究还存在空白。我们假设，太空应激因素可能对女性健康产生持久影响，在返回地球后可能会增加未来妊娠的风险，特别是与胎儿小于胎龄（SGA）相关的风险。为了解决这个问题，我们在 SGA 和太空环境之间确定了一个共享的微小 RNA（miRNA）特征，这个特征在人类和老鼠中是保守的。这些 miRNA 靶向与疾病和发育相关的基因和途径。我们采用机器学习方法，确定了一些潜在的已批准用于治疗疾病的药物，以减轻这些风险，包括雌激素和孕激素受体拮抗剂、维生素 D 受体拮抗剂以及 DNA 聚合酶抑制剂。这项研究强调了女性宇航员可能面临的与妊娠相关的健康风险，并提出了药物干预措施，以抵消太空旅行对女性健康的影响。
