STELSYS LIVER CELL FUNCTION RESEARCH (STELSYS)
Research Area: Cellular Biology
Expedition(s): 5
Principal Investigator(s): ● Albert Li, PhD, StelSys LLC, Baltimore, Maryland
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
StelSys Liver Cell Function Research (StelSys) tests human liver cell functionality in microgravity
and compares the results to the typical function of duplicate cells on Earth.
EARTH BENEFITS
Human liver cells grown on Earth using traditional techniques typically form flat colonies that
only function for 1 or 2 days at best. However, liver cells grown on Earth in NASA's Rotating
Bioreactor form 3-D colonies that maintain their function for at least several weeks. These cell
colonies closely resemble and function like natural cells in the human body, which makes them
excellent candidates for research concerning drug metabolism and general cell function.
Scientists believe that cells grown in a microgravity environment also develop in a 3-D form that
resembles cells in the human body. This enables researchers to isolate and study the multiple
factors that influence cellular function in microgravity and then compare the results to ground-
based data obtained from the Rotating
Bioreactor.
The Rotating Bioreactor is being used in the
investigator's laboratory to perform drug
metabolism studies. These studies are
useful for determining how the human
body processes a drug. In addition,
quantities of drug metabolites are
produced, and these are required in various
pharmacokinetic and toxicology studies
during the course of drug development.
The ultimate goal is to speed up the
process that is used to make new drugs
available for patients in need.
The data obtained from this investigation
could also aid in the development of a liver-assist device, a machine very similar to a kidney
dialysis machine. Such a device would be used to sustain the life of a patient with advanced
liver disease waiting for an organ transplant.
SPACE BENEFITS
This experiment gives insight on how liver cells function in microgravity. The results help in
developing measures to further protect the health of crewmembers on extended exploration
missions.
Human liver cells at the completion of a ground-control
experiment. A stain has been applied to indicate the live
versus dead (blue-colored) cells. NASA Johnson Space
Center image.