Stem cells survived unexpectedly rough space travel
Stem cells sent to the International Space Station (ISS) were subjected to considerably greater stresses than the researchers had anticipated. Nevertheless, some of them survived and retained their ability to develop into nerve cells, according to research by Professor Elena Kozlova at IGP.
Photo: Tobias Sterner/Bildbyrån
In early 2024, a type of stem cell known as neurospheres (i.e. clusters of neural stem cells) that had been laboratory cultivated were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to be exposed to microgravity.
The return trip was delayed several times due to bad weather in the landing zone. As a result, the cells were outside controlled culture conditions for longer than anticipated – beyond the limit of what they were expected to survive.
When they finally arrived at the laboratory at BMC in Uppsala, no one knew whether it would be possible to complete the experiment. But despite being subjected to severe stress, some of the cells survived and after recovery they were still able to develop into nerve cells and glial cells and functioned normally in the researchers’ tests. The results have now been analysed and are presented in an article in the journal NPJ Microgravity.