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Ray Cao

Biol 1615

Professor Nicole Pearson

3/26/17

Summary of bone deterioration

in astronauts
As we age our bones start to deteriorate which is the process where the bones become

fragile because of loss of bone mineral density. The deterioration of the bones could lead to

increased fractures and bone fragility. (NIAMSD, Osteoporosis Overview 2015) This is a

problem when it comes to space travel and scientists believe the cause of this is because of

radiation exposure, microgravity, and inflammatory stimuli in the bones. Researchers at Boise

State University hypothesize that simulated microgravity alters osteoblast OSM signaling,

contributing to the decoupling of osteolysis and osteogenesis in bone homeostasis. (Goyden,

The Effect of OSM on MC3T3-E1 Osteoblastic Cells in Simulated Microgravity with Radiation)

The experiment started off by obtaining a cell culture from subclone 4 mouse pre-

osteoblast cell line and an osteosarcoma cell line. Supplements such as 10% fetal bovine serum

and 100 U/Ml each of penicillin and streptomycin were used on these cells. The cells were

maintained at a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius, 5% carbon dioxide, and 95% humidity. Next,

they purchase microcarriers which were hydrated in phosphate buffered saline and was

autoclaved for 20 minutes at 121 degree Celsius. They washed the microcarriers out then they

transferred to culture medium to begin seeding cells. After seeding, they initiated the testing by

inducing osteogenic differentiation by giving the cells more ascorbic acid and phosphate buffer

at a Ph of 7.4. They also induced OSM signaling by supplementing the cells with recombinant

mouse OSM.

How they tested if microgravity did have an effect on bone deterioration is by using the

RCCS or Rotary Cell Culture System. This system would put the cultured cells through a

gravitational low shear stress by rotating. They tested radiation first off by transferring the cells

into a sterile concentration of Cytopore and was exposed to 1 Gy at 364 rad/s. They extracted the
RNA from the cells and was tested if the radiation had an effect. They used alizarin red stain to

view the cells and they concluded their study.

The experiment results showed that microgravity and radiation both increased osteoblast

mediated production of RANKL, IL-6, and suppression of osteoprotegerin independently. The

combination of both did show osteolysis and microgravity did show the promotion of bone loss.

The results of this experiment did conclude that the hypothesis was correct. The simulated

microgravity mixed with radiation did promote osteolysis and bone loss. It was also included that

the RCCS could not produce osteoid. The reason they believe is because the microcarriers was in

constant motion and the shear force had an effect on it as well. They believed if they wouldve

used collagen-based microcarriers it wouldve been compatible.

The research has been concluded that microgravity and exposure to radiation both show

bone loss. The experiment gives us a better understanding what causes bone deterioration during

space travel. This is one of the reasons why we cannot explore any further into space. It was said

that Each month in space, astronauts lose approximately 1% of bone mineral density. (Goyden,

The Effect of OSM on MC3T3-E1 Osteoblastic Cells in Simulated Microgravity with Radiation) This,

of course, affects the community of space travelers and this experiment gives us a better

understanding to hopefully find a way for this to not happen.


Works cited

Goyden, Jake, Ken Tawara, Danielle Hedeen, Jeffrey S. Willey, Julia Thom Oxford, and Cheryl L.

Jorcyk. "The Effect of OSM on MC3T3-E1 Osteoblastic Cells in Simulated Microgravity with

Radiation." Plos One 10.6 (2015): n. pag. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.

NIAMSD. "Osteoporosis Overview." National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, June 2015. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.

<https://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/overview.asp>.

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