Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #30384: Fighting Muscle Loss in Space: Studying Sarcopenia with Engineered Tissues

Muscle loss is a serious problem, both on Earth and in space. As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass in a process known as sarcopenia. In microgravity, this process happens even faster. To tackle this issue, Dr. Ngan Huang and her team launched the experiment "Tissue Engineered Muscle as a Novel Platform to Study Sarcopenia" aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during Expedition 65.

This study used tissue-engineered human muscle grown in the lab to understand how microgravity accelerates muscle wasting. These 3D muscle tissues were sent to the ISS to see how they respond to the absence of gravity, which simulates the effects of aging in a short period.

Sarcopenia affects millions of people worldwide and is a major cause of frailty and reduced quality of life in the elderly. Understanding how muscle cells behave and degenerate in space can provide vital clues for slowing or even reversing this condition on Earth.

In the ISS’s unique environment, muscle cells undergo structural and biochemical changes. Dr. Huang’s team studied these changes by analyzing gene expression, protein content, and contractile function of the muscle tissue after being in microgravity.

The research showed that microgravity significantly impacts muscle fiber integrity and function. It also offered insights into how certain interventions, like exercise or pharmaceuticals, might protect against muscle loss. These findings can guide the development of therapies for both astronauts and aging populations on Earth.

This innovative approach, using engineered tissue instead of animal models, makes the research more human-relevant and ethically sustainable. It also accelerates discovery by providing precise, controllable platforms for testing.

Tissue engineering and spaceflight research are combining to solve one of humanity’s most persistent health issues. With continued support, experiments like this could change how we age and recover from muscle loss, both on Earth and beyond.

Join the Agnirva Space Internship Program

Get certified with over 100 hours of immersive, self-paced learning in astronomy, cosmology, space technology, and climate science through the Agnirva Space Internship Program. Join, complete virtual projects, and earn a digital certificate to showcase your space fluency in interviews, resumes, and beyond.