LSDA: Experiment

EXPERIMENT INFORMATION

The Marrow Study (Bone Marrow Adipose Reaction: Red or White?) (Marrow)

Principal Investigator

+ Trudel, Guy

Research Area:

Network physiology

Species Studied

Scientific Name: Homo sapiens Species: Human

Study Type

+ International Space Station (ISS)

Description

OBJECTIVES:
Blood cells are formed inside the bone marrow. The bone marrow has a finite volume. Fat cells are also found here. These fat cells grow both in size and number when the bone is not exposed to mechanical loading. Because the fat cells and blood cells must share the available volume in the bone marrow, accumulation of fat cells directly impacts blood cells. In addition to limited volume, the fat cells produce factors that affect the formation of the blood cells.

The red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Decreased red blood cells, called anemia, may result in physical limitations such as weakness or fatigue and cognitive slowing. On Earth, longstanding anemia is linked to lower quality of life and early mortality. White blood cells defend against infections, among many other functions. Malfunctioning white blood cells may predispose to severe infections and increase sensitivity to radiation.

This investigation will study, for the first time, the accumulation of bone marrow fat after a human subject has lived in microgravity and its impact on red and white blood cells. Using magnetic resonance imaging, blood samples, breath samples and possibly stool samples, bone marrow fat and blood survival and function will be measured. The expectation is that by imaging the marrow of specific bones in astronauts before and after flight, the impact of fat accumulation on blood elements in microgravity will be demonstrated. These results will complement previous results in space analogues; the long term bed rest studies performed in women (WISE 2005) and in men (BBR2-2). Results will also be applicable to people on Earth with decreased mobility or bedridden.

The specific objectives of this investigation are:

1: To measure fat accumulation in the bone marrow on astronauts pre- and post- stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) using non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
2: To measure the effects of prospective marrow fat accumulation and microgravity on red and white blood cells using markers of erythrocyte degradation in blood, breath (CO) and stool (microbiome), as well as leukocyte function (transcriptome).
3: To analyze the effect of a) individual space flights, and b) cumulative exposure to microgravity on astronauts’ blood cell counts.

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APPROACH:
This experiment will collect novel data on prospective alteration inside hemopoietically active bones that can have broad effects on bone function as well as on anemia, immunity and coagulation. The focus of this effort will be on erythrocyte degradation and leukocyte function.

Preflight baseline data collection (BDC) is planned to occur between Launch – 90 days (L-90) and L-60. On awakening, the subject will collect ambient and alveolar breath samples into separate canisters for later analysis. Fasting blood samples will be taken. One of the samples will be treated according to a special protocol to include mixing, centrifugation, and freezing. A transcriptome blood sample may also be taken. Intestinal microbiota will be collected via a stool sample. Finally, the subject will undergo an MRI.

Postflight sample collection is similar to preflight. However, there are more collections. Breath samples will be collected on Return to earth + 3-7 days (R+3-7), R+12-15, and R+365 ±30. Blood samples will be taken on R+30 ±7, R+180 ±30, and R+365 ±30. As before, one sample will be handled per the special protocol. Leukocyte transcriptome blood sampling is planned for R+0, R+3-7, and R+12-15. The special handling protocol will be used here as well. Intestinal microbiota will be collected R+3-7 and R+365±30. MRIs will take place on R+30 ±7, R+180 ±30, and R+365 ±30.

Inflight, blood collection is required on Flight day 4-6 (FD4-6), FD8-12, FD 80-90, and FD165-175. Breath samples will also be collected four times on FD 4-6, FD 8-12, FD80-90, and FD 165-175. Hematocrit may be collected. Where possible, collections will be shared with other experiments/activities in order to maximize crew efficiency.

Additional data will be required in order to complete the analysis including medication, exercise, and fitness data. This data will be obtaining through data sharing agreements.

RESULTS:
This is an international experiment. NASA does not currently have an agreement with international space partners to archive their data in the LSDA.

Publications

Trudel G, Shahin N, Ramsay T, et al. Hemolysis contributes to anemia during long-duration space flight. Nature Medicine 28, 59-62 (2022). [DOI]

Trudel G, Shafer J, Laneuville O, Ramsay T. Characterizing the effect of exposure to microgravity on anemia: more space is worse. American Journal of Hematology. 2020 Mar;95(3):267-273.

Culliton, K., Louati, H., Laneuville, O. et al. Six degrees head-down tilt bed rest caused low-grade hemolysis: a prospective randomized clinical trial. The Nature Partner Journals Microgravity 7, 4 (2021). [DOI]

Keywords

Bone marrow

Erythrocytes

Leukocytes

Transcriptome

Data Information

Data Availability

Archiving in Progress. Some restricted access data exist for this experiment.
Data Sets

+ Request data

Parameters

Blood biomarkers

Carbon monoxide in alveolar air

Carbon monoxide in ambient air

Exercise logs

Fat fraction

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Mission/Study Information

Mission	Launch/Start Date	Landing/End Date	Duration
Expedition 46	12/11/2015	03/02/2016	82 days
Expedition 47	03/02/2016	06/18/2016	108 days
Expedition 48	06/18/2016	09/06/2016	80 days
Expedition 49	09/06/2016	10/30/2016	54 days
Expedition 50	10/28/2016	04/09/2017	164 days
Expedition 51	04/09/2017	06/02/2017	55 days
Expedition 52	06/02/2017	09/02/2017	92 days
Expedition 53	09/02/2017	12/14/2017	102 days
Expedition 54	12/14/2017	02/27/2018	75 days
Expedition 55	02/27/2018	06/03/2018	96 days
Expedition 56	06/03/2018	10/04/2018	123 days
Expedition 57	10/04/2018	12/20/2018	77 days
Expedition 58	12/18/2018	03/14/2019	85 days
Expedition 59	03/14/2019	06/24/2019	102 days

Additional Information

Co-Investigators

+ Cameron, Ian

+ Laneuville, Odette

+ Ramsay, Tim

+ Sheikh, Adnan

+ Stintzi, Alain

Managing NASA Center

Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Responsible NASA Representative

Johnson Space Center LSDA Office
Project Manager: Jessica Keune

Institutional Support

Canadian Space Agency (CSA)

Alternate Experiment Name

MARW

Proposal Date

Proposal Source