From Earth to orbit: How to preserve muscle health in space and bed rest DOI Creative Commons
Antonios Matsakas, Colleen S. Deane

Experimental Physiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 26, 2025

Muscle mass and strength loss during spaceflight prolonged bed rest are inevitable consequences of disuse. Extensive evidence suggests that muscle atrophy under both conditions is primarily driven by impaired protein synthesis reduced turnover. A recent review published in this Special Issue Experimental Physiology Bosutti et al. (2025) critically discusses the physiological mechanisms associated with microgravity-induced function, as well latest countermeasures aimed at mitigating its effects (Figure 1 al., 2025). At molecular level, dysregulation Akt/mechanistic target rapamycin signaling pathway, which governs synthesis, along activation multiple proteolytic pathways, such ubiquitin–proteasome system autophagy, play a central role wasting. Additionally, disruptions cytoskeletal integrity extracellular matrix organization lead to spatial disarray cellular organelles, resulting mitochondrial nuclear dysfunction. Such structural changes may also compromise neuromuscular junctions, potentially explaining disproportionate decline relative mass, observed studies (Table 2 Beyond impairments, induce significant metabolic disturbances, including substrate inflexibility, mitophagy, lipotoxicity, mito-nuclear communication deficits insulin resistance, all highlight urgent need for effective against wasting – on Earth orbit. Among available interventions, exercise remains most strategy microgravity Various regimens, combination aerobic, resistance vibration exercises, have shown promise attenuating atrophy. Notably, reactive jumps involving eccentric contractions emerged particularly effective, offering muscular cardiovascular benefits (Thomasius 2023). However, key challenge exercise-based space size equipment difficulty achieving high loads (Rittweger 2018). potential artificial gravity via centrifugation major body axis means mitigate investigation. Whether biomechanical interventions can replicate Earth-like loading effectively counteract an open question. exercise, nutritional supplementation plays crucial offsetting negative energy balance maintaining Key include whey leucine metabolite β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate, support maintenance enhance anabolic response (Gao & Chilibeck, 2020; Wilkinson 2013). Another promising approach, immobilized individuals Earth, electrical stimulation, has demonstrated efficacy preventing following disuse (Hardy 2022; Maffiuletti 2019). effectiveness be fully established 3 The future likely lies multimodal strategies integrate nutrition, post-recovery rehabilitation. While pharmacological approaches remain largely experimental, they hold synergistic interventions. For instance, selective androgen receptor modulators exhibit similar testosterone but fewer side effects, while vitamin D critical function bone health, environments. Importantly, research extends beyond exploration, valuable insights into broader clinical public health contexts. This because underlying astronauts patients share striking similarities those sarcopenia (i.e., age-related function), neurodegenerative diseases, dystrophies illness-induced Anabolic ageing blunted intake exercise) contributes wasting, mobility increased morbidity. Countermeasures explored research, training, could applied older adult populations maintain functional independence vice versa. Similarly, immobilization due injury or intensive care treatment followed rapid inevitably long-term quality life. development targeted countermeasures, rehabilitation these people patients. applications, athletes recovering from sports injuries benefit spaceflight-inspired countermeasures. Periods forced inactivity fractures, ligament tears post-surgical recovery loss. Eccentric stimulation accelerate Moreover, understanding inflexibility implications type diabetes syndrome. Disrupted lipid metabolism mirror dysfunction seen obesity diabetes. Future therefore contribute novel therapeutic improving glucose regulation, flexibility risk. Ultimately, interplay physiology terrestrial medicine provides unique opportunity develop holistic, evidence-based preserving across diverse populations. By continuing explore researchers human performance, ensuring cutting-edge advancements biology. Both authors read approved final version manuscript agree accountable aspects work questions related accuracy any part appropriately investigated resolved. All persons designated qualify authorship, who authorship listed. None declared. No funding was received work.

Language: Английский

From Earth to orbit: How to preserve muscle health in space and bed rest DOI Creative Commons
Antonios Matsakas, Colleen S. Deane

Experimental Physiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 26, 2025

Muscle mass and strength loss during spaceflight prolonged bed rest are inevitable consequences of disuse. Extensive evidence suggests that muscle atrophy under both conditions is primarily driven by impaired protein synthesis reduced turnover. A recent review published in this Special Issue Experimental Physiology Bosutti et al. (2025) critically discusses the physiological mechanisms associated with microgravity-induced function, as well latest countermeasures aimed at mitigating its effects (Figure 1 al., 2025). At molecular level, dysregulation Akt/mechanistic target rapamycin signaling pathway, which governs synthesis, along activation multiple proteolytic pathways, such ubiquitin–proteasome system autophagy, play a central role wasting. Additionally, disruptions cytoskeletal integrity extracellular matrix organization lead to spatial disarray cellular organelles, resulting mitochondrial nuclear dysfunction. Such structural changes may also compromise neuromuscular junctions, potentially explaining disproportionate decline relative mass, observed studies (Table 2 Beyond impairments, induce significant metabolic disturbances, including substrate inflexibility, mitophagy, lipotoxicity, mito-nuclear communication deficits insulin resistance, all highlight urgent need for effective against wasting – on Earth orbit. Among available interventions, exercise remains most strategy microgravity Various regimens, combination aerobic, resistance vibration exercises, have shown promise attenuating atrophy. Notably, reactive jumps involving eccentric contractions emerged particularly effective, offering muscular cardiovascular benefits (Thomasius 2023). However, key challenge exercise-based space size equipment difficulty achieving high loads (Rittweger 2018). potential artificial gravity via centrifugation major body axis means mitigate investigation. Whether biomechanical interventions can replicate Earth-like loading effectively counteract an open question. exercise, nutritional supplementation plays crucial offsetting negative energy balance maintaining Key include whey leucine metabolite β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate, support maintenance enhance anabolic response (Gao & Chilibeck, 2020; Wilkinson 2013). Another promising approach, immobilized individuals Earth, electrical stimulation, has demonstrated efficacy preventing following disuse (Hardy 2022; Maffiuletti 2019). effectiveness be fully established 3 The future likely lies multimodal strategies integrate nutrition, post-recovery rehabilitation. While pharmacological approaches remain largely experimental, they hold synergistic interventions. For instance, selective androgen receptor modulators exhibit similar testosterone but fewer side effects, while vitamin D critical function bone health, environments. Importantly, research extends beyond exploration, valuable insights into broader clinical public health contexts. This because underlying astronauts patients share striking similarities those sarcopenia (i.e., age-related function), neurodegenerative diseases, dystrophies illness-induced Anabolic ageing blunted intake exercise) contributes wasting, mobility increased morbidity. Countermeasures explored research, training, could applied older adult populations maintain functional independence vice versa. Similarly, immobilization due injury or intensive care treatment followed rapid inevitably long-term quality life. development targeted countermeasures, rehabilitation these people patients. applications, athletes recovering from sports injuries benefit spaceflight-inspired countermeasures. Periods forced inactivity fractures, ligament tears post-surgical recovery loss. Eccentric stimulation accelerate Moreover, understanding inflexibility implications type diabetes syndrome. Disrupted lipid metabolism mirror dysfunction seen obesity diabetes. Future therefore contribute novel therapeutic improving glucose regulation, flexibility risk. Ultimately, interplay physiology terrestrial medicine provides unique opportunity develop holistic, evidence-based preserving across diverse populations. By continuing explore researchers human performance, ensuring cutting-edge advancements biology. Both authors read approved final version manuscript agree accountable aspects work questions related accuracy any part appropriately investigated resolved. All persons designated qualify authorship, who authorship listed. None declared. No funding was received work.

Language: Английский

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