Abstract

The Effect of Microgravity on Lung Stem Cell and Lung Physiologic Responses

Joan Nichols, Professor, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Human lung organoids were developed on site at Cape Canaveral Research Facilities.  Sets of 3D lung organoids +/- human macrophages were flown on the ISS from 8/13-8/22/2017.  Ground controls were shipped to Texas. Culture supernatant was isolated from ISS flown and ground controls every 5 days as were matched sets of organoids. Organoids were fixed and stored.  Analysis of samples has indicated that ISS flown samples showed differences in tissue formation, lung stem cell maturation, lung stem cell attachment to scaffold and surfactant production as well as dispersal compared to ground controls.