Войти

Experimental drug protects mice on the ISS from weakening bones

1369
0
+1
Image source: © AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

An analog of a signaling molecule that stimulates bone growth in animals and humans has successfully passed the first tests in microgravity

TASS, September 18. For the first time, scientists from the USA have successfully tested the work of an experimental drug based on a synthetic analog of the NELL-1 protein in experiments on mice on board the ISS. This substance stimulates the restoration of bone tissue, which protects against weakening during a long life in weightlessness. This was announced on Monday by the press service of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). The work was published on Monday in the journal npj Microgravity.

"The results of our experiments are of great importance for future space exploration, in particular missions whose participants will live for a long time in microgravity. If we get the same effect in human experiments, then the BP-NELL-PEG drug we have created can become a promising tool for protecting muscles and bones from weakening, especially in conditions when training is impossible due to injuries or other hindering factors," said the lead author of the work, UCLA Professor Chia Su, whose the words are quoted by the press service of the university.

One of the biggest obstacles to a long human life in space is considered to be the weakening of bones due to the gradual demineralization of bone tissue. It is possible to fight this process with the help of exercises that strengthen the muscles and skeleton, but they are not always possible to perform them during long flights into space.

Professor Chia Su and her colleagues have developed and tested for the first time a tool that significantly slows down the weakening of bones during prolonged life in microgravity. The drug they created is an analog of the human protein NELL-1, one of the signaling molecules that control the process of bone tissue growth.

A few years ago, biologists discovered that injections of NELL-1 in combination with another signaling protein, BMP-2, significantly accelerate the regeneration of bone tissue in rodents. Based on these results, the authors of the work created a long-acting drug based on NELL-1, polyethylene glycol and biphosphonates (BP-NELL-PEG), capable of selectively penetrating bone tissue and stimulating its growth.​

Protection of bones from the effects of weightlessness

Scientists tested the effect of BP-NELL-PEG on 40 mice that spent a total of nine weeks on board the ISS. Half of the animals received regular injections of the drug, while others were part of the control group. After the mice returned to Earth, the scientists measured the bone density in their thighs, shins and lower back and found that protein injections significantly improved the condition of the rodents' bones.

So, for nine weeks of life in space, bone density in mice from the control group fell by 10-15%. At the same time, the density of most animal bone samples from the experimental group either decreased slightly or increased by 3-10%.

The researchers hope that BP-NELL-PEG will act in a similar way on the bones of the ISS crew members, as well as participants in future long-term expeditions to the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies. In addition, scientists suggest that the drug can be used to treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases.

The rights to this material belong to
The material is placed by the copyright holder in the public domain
  • The news mentions
Страны
Do you want to leave a comment? Register and/or Log in
ПОДПИСКА НА НОВОСТИ
Ежедневная рассылка новостей ВПК на электронный почтовый ящик
  • Discussion
    Update
  • 05.07 23:44
  • 9573
Without carrot and stick. Russia has deprived America of its usual levers of influence
  • 05.07 18:04
  • 4
Expert Kuzyakin: Ukraine uses marketing to recruit Russian citizens
  • 05.07 14:23
  • 11
В США порассуждали о новой роли стареющих штурмовиков A-10
  • 05.07 10:05
  • 3
В добавление к "Интеллектуальные способности высших военных командиров"
  • 05.07 04:06
  • 3
Российскую лазерную систему ПВО применят против украинского «Лютого»
  • 04.07 12:28
  • 1
"Tested on Russian drones": Sweden recognizes the start of deliveries of the Tridon Mk2 air defense system to Ukraine
  • 04.07 11:48
  • 1
Путин: российские штурмовики "без всяких роботов" действуют эффективно
  • 04.07 11:22
  • 2
The alarming US decision to suspend arms supplies to Ukraine (The Economist, UK)
  • 04.07 08:52
  • 459
Израиль усиливает меры безопасности в связи с опасениями ударов со стороны Ирана
  • 04.07 03:47
  • 1
Is Europe ready for war? (Financial Times, UK)
  • 04.07 03:20
  • 1
Ростех запускает свой токен RUBx
  • 04.07 02:45
  • 1
Миронов предложил создать морские ЧВК для охраны торгового флота
  • 04.07 02:40
  • 0
Ответ на "«Полный провал конкурента С-400»: в индийской прессе раскритиковали дебют китайского ЗРК HQ-9B на поле боя"
  • 03.07 17:40
  • 1100
Израиль "готовился не к той войне" — и оказался уязвим перед ХАМАС
  • 03.07 14:31
  • 6
"An order for hundreds of vehicles is possible": the Slovak Wolf 25 AD armored anti-drone vehicle is being tested in Ukraine