Joint Cartilage in Long-Duration Spaceflight
This review summarizes the current literature available on joint cartilage alterations in long-duration spaceflight. Evidence from spaceflight participants is currently limited to serum biomarker data in only a few astronauts. Findings from analogue model research, such as bed rest studies, as well...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Biomedicines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/6/1356 |
| _version_ | 1797489664529006592 |
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| author | Bergita Ganse Magali Cucchiarini Henning Madry |
| author_facet | Bergita Ganse Magali Cucchiarini Henning Madry |
| author_sort | Bergita Ganse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This review summarizes the current literature available on joint cartilage alterations in long-duration spaceflight. Evidence from spaceflight participants is currently limited to serum biomarker data in only a few astronauts. Findings from analogue model research, such as bed rest studies, as well as data from animal and cell research in real microgravity indicate that unloading and radiation exposure are associated with joint degeneration in terms of cartilage thinning and changes in cartilage composition. It is currently unknown how much the individual cartilage regions in the different joints of the human body will be affected on long-term missions beyond the Low Earth Orbit. Given the fact that, apart from total joint replacement or joint resurfacing, currently no treatment exists for late-stage osteoarthritis, countermeasures might be needed to avoid cartilage damage during long-duration missions. To plan countermeasures, it is important to know if and how joint cartilage and the adjacent structures, such as the subchondral bone, are affected by long-term unloading, reloading, and radiation. The use of countermeasures that put either load and shear, or other stimuli on the joints, shields them from radiation or helps by supporting cartilage physiology, or by removing oxidative stress possibly help to avoid OA in later life following long-duration space missions. There is a high demand for research on the efficacy of such countermeasures to judge their suitability for their implementation in long-duration missions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:20:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6dced466d1f84eebae9a37b5e78ce445 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:20:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj.art-6dced466d1f84eebae9a37b5e78ce4452023-11-23T15:43:25ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592022-06-01106135610.3390/biomedicines10061356Joint Cartilage in Long-Duration SpaceflightBergita Ganse0Magali Cucchiarini1Henning Madry2Werner Siemens Foundation Endowed Chair of Innovative Implant Development (Fracture Healing), Clinics and Institutes of Surgery, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, GermanyCenter of Experimental Orthopaedics, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, GermanyCenter of Experimental Orthopaedics, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, GermanyThis review summarizes the current literature available on joint cartilage alterations in long-duration spaceflight. Evidence from spaceflight participants is currently limited to serum biomarker data in only a few astronauts. Findings from analogue model research, such as bed rest studies, as well as data from animal and cell research in real microgravity indicate that unloading and radiation exposure are associated with joint degeneration in terms of cartilage thinning and changes in cartilage composition. It is currently unknown how much the individual cartilage regions in the different joints of the human body will be affected on long-term missions beyond the Low Earth Orbit. Given the fact that, apart from total joint replacement or joint resurfacing, currently no treatment exists for late-stage osteoarthritis, countermeasures might be needed to avoid cartilage damage during long-duration missions. To plan countermeasures, it is important to know if and how joint cartilage and the adjacent structures, such as the subchondral bone, are affected by long-term unloading, reloading, and radiation. The use of countermeasures that put either load and shear, or other stimuli on the joints, shields them from radiation or helps by supporting cartilage physiology, or by removing oxidative stress possibly help to avoid OA in later life following long-duration space missions. There is a high demand for research on the efficacy of such countermeasures to judge their suitability for their implementation in long-duration missions.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/6/1356astronautcosmonauttaikonautimmobilizationunloadingweightlessness |
| spellingShingle | Bergita Ganse Magali Cucchiarini Henning Madry Joint Cartilage in Long-Duration Spaceflight Biomedicines astronaut cosmonaut taikonaut immobilization unloading weightlessness |
| title | Joint Cartilage in Long-Duration Spaceflight |
| title_full | Joint Cartilage in Long-Duration Spaceflight |
| title_fullStr | Joint Cartilage in Long-Duration Spaceflight |
| title_full_unstemmed | Joint Cartilage in Long-Duration Spaceflight |
| title_short | Joint Cartilage in Long-Duration Spaceflight |
| title_sort | joint cartilage in long duration spaceflight |
| topic | astronaut cosmonaut taikonaut immobilization unloading weightlessness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/6/1356 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bergitaganse jointcartilageinlongdurationspaceflight AT magalicucchiarini jointcartilageinlongdurationspaceflight AT henningmadry jointcartilageinlongdurationspaceflight |