[Mouse Stress Defense/MHU-3]
Role of Environmental Stress‒responsive Transcription Factor Nrf2 in Space Stress

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

• Major concerns of human health during long-duration missions in space include carcinogenic effects of the body due to exposure to cosmic radiation, and the reduction of muscle and bone density due to microgravity.
• To clarify the Nrf2 protein’s contribution to the defense of the body against the space stresses, genetically modified Nrf2 loss-of-function, and gain-of-function mice, are sent to the International Space Station (ISS). After return to Earth, the mice are examined through histology, metabolome, gene expression, and gene mutation analyses.
• The Role of Environmental Stress-responsive Transcription Factor Nrf2 in Space Stress (Mouse Stress Defense) investigation uses living mice to assess how the space stresses affect general and specific functions of animals. Genetically modified mouse models are a powerful means to acquiring meaningful evidence for the protection of the body from space stresses, which is also applicable for Earth-based health issues.

SPACE APPLICATIONS

Results from the Mouse Stress Defense investigation can help scientists to understand how Nrf2 protects our body from space stresses. The investigation also provides precious information to apply Nrf2 inducers for protection of our body in future long-duration space missions.

EARTH APPLICATIONS

Study of the Nrf2-mediated defense mechanism to reduce risk from space stresses could also help scientists to understand the mechanism underlying the oxidative and mechanical stresses on Earth. The study allows researchers to assess how Nrf2 inducers protect a wide range of diseases caused by oxidative and mechanical stresses.

YAMAMOTO Masayuki [Tohoku University]