Spaceflight effects on human body and countermeasures for wellness

Life in space exposes human body to a series of stressors, among which microgravity and space radiation are the main. Additional stressors during missions are mental stress due to high workload, confinement, very narrow living and workplace, scarce availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, no open air activities and scarce hygiene. During space flight human body adapts to these stressors with both transient and permanent consequences. Our attention focused on the vascular system and its role in wound healing, which appears impaired in space.

The aims of our research are:

• to study the altered molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in healing of wound and tissue regeneration,
•  to measure inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in biological fluids of astronauts (compared with submariners);
•  propose drugs or nutraceuticals to be used as pharmacological countermeasures;
•  develop 3D biosynthetic constructs to allow tissue regeneration.