The MyoGravity project to study real microgravity effects on human muscle precursor cells and tissue

Microgravity (µG) experienced during space flights promotes adaptation in several astronauts' organs and tissues, with skeletal muscles being the most affected. In response to reduced gravitational loading, muscles (especially, lower limb and antigravity muscles) undergo progressive mass loss and alteration in metabolism, myofiber size, and composition. Skeletal muscle precursor cells (MPCs), also known as satellite cells, are responsible for the growth and maintenance of muscle mass in adult life as well as for muscle regeneration following damage and may have a major role in µG-induced muscle wasting. Despite the great relevance for astronaut health, very few data are available about the effects of real µG on human muscles. Based on the MyoGravity project, this study aimed to analyze: (i) the cellular and transcriptional alterations induced by real µG in human MPCs (huMPCs) and (ii) the response of human skeletal muscle to normal gravitational loading after prolonged exposure to µG. We evaluated the transcriptomic changes induced by µG on board the International Space Station (ISS) in differentiating huMPCs isolated from Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies of a pre-flight astronaut and an age- and sex-matched volunteer, in comparison with the same cells cultured on the ground in standard gravity (1×g) conditions. We found that huMPCs differentiated under real µG conditions showed: (i) upregulation of genes related to cell adhesion, plasma membrane components, and ion transport; (ii) strong downregulation of genes related to the muscle contraction machinery and sarcomere organization; and (iii) downregulation of muscle-specific microRNAs (myomiRs). Moreover, we had the unique opportunity to analyze huMPCs and skeletal muscle tissue of the same astronaut before and 30 h after a long-duration space flight on board the ISS. Prolonged exposure to real µG strongly affected the biology and functionality of the astronaut's satellite cells, which showed a dramatic reduction of responsiveness to activating stimuli and proliferation rate, morphological changes, and almost inability to fuse into myotubes. RNA-Seq analysis of post- vs. pre-flight muscle tissue showed that genes involved in muscle structure and remodeling are promptly activated after landing following a long-duration space mission. Conversely, genes involved in the myelination process or synapse and neuromuscular junction organization appeared downregulated. Although we have investigated only one astronaut, these results point to a prompt readaptation of the skeletal muscle mechanical components to the normal gravitational loading, but the inability to rapidly recover the physiological muscle myelination/innervation pattern after landing from a long-duration space flight. Together with the persistent functional deficit observed in the astronaut's satellite cells after prolonged exposure to real µG, these results lead us to hypothesize that a condition of inefficient regeneration is likely to occur in the muscles of post-flight astronauts following damage.