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Opening the Gate to the Serism Project: From Earth to Space and Back

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Abstract

In the context of Space Medicine, the aim of “SERiSM” (Role of the Endocannabinoid System in Reprogramming human pluripotent Stem cells under Microgravity) project, selected by the Italian Space Agency, was to study the involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the osteogenic differentiation under real microgravity. An innovative and easily accessible stem cell model derived from human blood (human blood-derived stem cells, hBDSCs) was used to this purpose. This model is autologous and possesses a remarkable proliferative and differentiative capacity underground gravity conditions, with high therapeutic potential for bone degenerative diseases. ECS is a fine network of proteins that interact to regulate the endogenous levels of lipid mediators, collectively termed endocannabinoids (eCBs), which in turn are involved in cell communication and in the mechanisms governing the switch between cell life and death. In the frame of the VITA mission, led by European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Paolo Nespoli, we analyzed the differentiation process also under microgravity condition and evaluated the expression of ECS proteins through immunoassay methods. Our results demonstrate that some elements of the ECS are modulated during the differentiation process and in microgravity, supporting the idea that increased levels of anandamide are indeed need to stimulate type-1 cannabinoid receptor. In conclusion, microgravity could drive endocannabinoid signalling in the former stages of hBDSCs differentiation.

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Acknowledgements

The SERiSM project was made possible by the coordination and financial support of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), under the contract N. 2016-5-U.0 to M.M.

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Author notes

  1. M. Maccarrone, M. Fava and N. Battista equally first authors.

  2. M. Maccarrone, A. Gambacurta and M. Bari equally senior authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    M. Maccarrone

  2. European Center for Brain Research, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy

    M. Maccarrone & M. Fava

  3. Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy

    M. Fava & N. Battista

  4. Italian Space Agency, Rome, Italy

    S. Piccirillo, G. Valentini & G. Mascetti

  5. Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    A. Gambacurta & M. Bari

  6. NAST Centre, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    A. Gambacurta

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  1. M. Maccarrone
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  2. M. Fava
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  3. N. Battista
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  4. S. Piccirillo
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  5. G. Valentini
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  6. G. Mascetti
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  7. A. Gambacurta
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  8. M. Bari
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Correspondence to M. Maccarrone.

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Maccarrone, M., Fava, M., Battista, N. et al. Opening the Gate to the Serism Project: From Earth to Space and Back. Aerotec. Missili Spaz. 99, 87–91 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42496-020-00043-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42496-020-00043-5

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