ArticleNPJ microgravity2020
Feasibility, potency, and safety of growing human mesenchymal stem cells in space for clinical application.
Article in NPJ microgravity, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 56 citations in OpenAlex.
- Collagen-heparan sulfate microcarriers support mesenchymal stem cell culture in microgravity and streamline post-flight recovery.NPJ microgravity · 2026Article
- A novel mineral-organic bone adhesive promotes calvarial bone regeneration in microgravity conditions.NPJ microgravity · 2026Article
- Neutral Buoyancy as a Simple Approach to Simulated Microgravity.Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine · 2026Article
- Stem cells in space: microgravity effects on stem cell fate and implications for regenerative medicine.NPJ microgravity · 2025Review
- Microgravity-driven Rab27B activation amplifies mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicle production and functions.Stem cell research & therapy · 2025Article
- Biomanufacturing in low Earth orbit: A paradigm shift.Stem cell reports · 2025Review
- Spaceflight alters protein levels and gene expression associated with stress response and metabolic characteristics in human cardiac spheroids.Biomaterials · 2025Article
- Technical and regulatory opportunities and challenges for cell and gene therapies in low earth orbit: a status report.Cell & gene therapy insights · 2025Article
- Impact of spaceflight on gene expression in cultured human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells.PloS one · 2025Article
- A novel cell source for therapy of knee osteoarthritis using atelocollagen microsphere-adhered adipose-derived stem cells: Impact of synovial fluid exposure on cell activity.Regenerative therapy · 2024Article
- Review
- Discoveries from human stem cell research in space that are relevant to advancing cellular therapies on Earth.NPJ microgravity · 2024Review
- Hydrogel mechanical properties in altered gravity.NPJ microgravity · 2024Article
- Simulated microgravity improves maturation of cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Space microgravity increases expression of genes associated with proliferation and differentiation in human cardiac spheres.NPJ microgravity · 2023Article
- Genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male mice.NPJ microgravity · 2023Article
- Public-private partnerships in fostering outer space innovations.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2023Article
- Article
- Challenges and considerations for single-cell and spatially resolved transcriptomics sample collection during spaceflight.Cell reports methods · 2022Review
- Single Cell in a Gravity Field.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Growing stem cells on Earth is very challenging and limited to a few population doublings. The standard two-dimensional (2D) culture environment is an unnatural condition for cell growth. Therefore, culturing stem cells aboard the International Space Station (ISS) under a microgravity environment may provide a more natural three-dimensional environment for stem cell expansion and organ development. In this study, human-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) grown in space were evaluated to determine their potential use for future clinical applications on Earth and during long-term spaceflight. MSCs were flown in Plate Habitats for transportation to the ISS. The MSCs were imaged every 24-48 h and harvested at 7 and 14 days. Conditioned media samples were frozen at -80 °C and cells were either cryopreserved in 5% dimethyl sulfoxide, RNAprotect, or paraformaldehyde. After return to Earth, MSCs were characterized to establish their identity and cell cycle status. In addition, cell proliferation, differentiation, cytokines, and growth factors' secretion were assessed. To evaluate the risk of malignant transformation, the space-grown MSCs were subjected to chromosomal, DNA damage, and tumorigenicity assays. We found that microgravity had significant impact on the MSC capacity to secrete cytokines and growth factors. They appeared to be more potent in terms of immunosuppressive capacity compared to their identical ground control. Chromosomal, DNA damage, and tumorigenicity assays showed no evidence of malignant transformation. Therefore, it is feasible and potentially safe to grow MSCs aboard the ISS for potential future clinical applications.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.