Characterization of gene expression profiles in the mouse brain after 35 days of spaceflight mission

It has been proposed that neuroinflammatory response plays an important role in the neurovascular remodeling in the brain after stress. The goal of the present study was to characterize changes in the gene expression profiles associated with neuroinflammation, neuronal function, metabolism and stress in mouse brain tissue. Ten-week old male C57BL/6 mice were launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on SpaceX-12 for a 35-day mission. Within 38 +/- 4 h of splashdown, mice were returned to Earth alive. Brain tissues were collected for analysis. A novel digital color-coded barcode counting technology (NanoString (TM)) was used to evaluate gene expression profiles in the spaceflight mouse brain. A set of 54 differently expressed genes (p < 0.05) significantly segregates the habitat ground control (GC) group from flight (FLT) group. Many pathways associated with cellular stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and metabolism were significantly altered by flight conditions. A decrease in the expression of genes important for oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin sheath maintenance was observed. Moreover, mRNA expression of many genes related to anti-viral signaling, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and bacterial immune response were significantly downregulated. Here we report that significantly altered immune reactions may be closely associated with spaceflight-induced stress responses and have an impact on the neuronal function.

Automated summary

This study aimed to characterize changes in gene expression profiles associated with neuroinflammation, neuronal function, metabolism, and stress in mouse brain tissue after spaceflight. Results showed that many pathways related to cellular stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and metabolism were significantly altered by the flight conditions. Additionally, the mRNA expression of genes involved in anti-viral signaling, reactive oxygen species generation, and bacterial immune response were significantly downregulated. These findings suggest that altered immune reactions may be closely associated with spaceflight-induced stress responses and can affect neuronal function.