DIFFERENTIATION OF BONE MARROW MACROPHAGES IN SPACE (BONEMAC)
Research Area: Immune System
Expeditions: 18
Principal Investigator(s): ● Stephen Keith Chapes, PhD, MPH, Kansas State University,
Manhattan, Kansas
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
This experiment investigates how long-term exposure to microgravity, which would be
experienced on missions to the moon and Mars, effects production of cells critical to the
human immune system.
EARTH BENEFITS
Investigation of the effects of bone loss on blood cell production helps to improve the
effectiveness of treatments for similar conditions suffered by patients on Earth.
SPACE BENEFITS
Spaceflight crew members traveling to the
moon or Mars may experience degradation of
their immune system function because of
disruption of blood cell production
mechanisms. The results of this experiment
help in the development of medicines to
counteract disruptions to blood cell
production and to minimize potential crew
sickness from exposure to altered or new
bacteria and viruses.RESULTS
Experiments were carried out in vitro (outside
the living animal) over the course of a 2-week
space shuttle mission, on macrophages (a type
of white blood cell) from mice bone marrow
stem cells, to test the theory that changes in
the receptor for macrophage colony
stimulating factor (M-CSF) may have been
responsible for the effects of spaceflight on
bone marrow macrophage enhanced growth.
Bone marrow cells were analyzed in this study
as a complete bone marrow population and as
cell subpopulations distinguished by size and
internal complexity. Results showed the
number of bone marrow-derived macrophages
increase faster during spaceflight compared to
ground controls confirming previous findings.S126E008304 – Astronaut Heidemarie
Stefanyshyn-Piper, STS-126 mission specialist,
works with Group Activation Packs (GAP) on the
middeck of Space Shuttle Endeavour while docked
with the International Space Station (ISS).