Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31162: How Spaceflight Affects Kidney Health: The Tubule-on-a-Chip Study

The human kidney performs critical functions like filtering blood, balancing fluids, and regulating electrolytes. But what happens to these functions in space? To explore this, researchers conducted the “Effects of Microgravity on the Structure and Function of Proximal and Distal Tubule MPS” experiment aboard Expeditions 59/60 and 61/62 on the ISS.

This study used Microphysiological Systems (MPS), also known as “organs-on-a-chip,” to simulate the behavior of human kidney tubules. Developed by BioServe Space Technologies and led by Drs. Jonathan Himmelfarb and Edward Kelly from the University of Washington, this research aimed to understand how microgravity influences kidney cell function and structure.

The MPS devices mimicked the proximal and distal tubules of the kidney, which are essential for waste removal and fluid regulation. By sending these devices to the microgravity environment of the ISS, scientists could observe changes in gene expression, cellular stress responses, and metabolism.

The findings have implications not just for astronauts, but also for Earth-bound patients suffering from kidney disease. Microgravity provides a unique stressor that helps us model disease mechanisms in ways not possible on Earth.

This research is a milestone in space-based biotechnology, pushing the boundaries of both medical science and space travel.

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