Myocardial Disease and Long-Distance Space Travel: Solving the Radiation Problem

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

K. Jane Grande-Allen¹  Carlijn V. C. Bouten²  Sailay Siddiqi³  Willem J. L. Suyker⁴  Manon Meerman⁵  Tom C. L. Bracco Gartner⁵  Sean M. Wu⁶  Jan Willem Buikema⁷  Jesper Hjortnaes⁸ 

[1] Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States;Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands;Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands;Division Heart and Lung, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands;Division Heart and Lung, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands;Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands;Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States;Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands;Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands;Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands;Division Heart and Lung, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands;

关键词: radiation-induced cardiovascular disease;    cardiovascular system;    space radiation;    long-distance space travel;    experimental studies;    countermeasures;    HZE ions;    heart failure;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fcvm.2021.631985

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Radiation-induced cardiovascular disease is a well-known complication of radiation exposure. Over the last few years, planning for deep space missions has increased interest in the effects of space radiation on the cardiovascular system, as an increasing number of astronauts will be exposed to space radiation for longer periods of time. Research has shown that exposure to different types of particles found in space radiation can lead to the development of diverse cardiovascular disease via fibrotic myocardial remodeling, accelerated atherosclerosis and microvascular damage. Several underlying mechanisms for radiation-induced cardiovascular disease have been identified, but many aspects of the pathophysiology remain unclear. Existing pharmacological compounds have been evaluated to protect the cardiovascular system from space radiation-induced damage, but currently no radioprotective compounds have been approved. This review critically analyzes the effects of space radiation on the cardiovascular system, the underlying mechanisms and potential countermeasures to space radiation-induced cardiovascular disease.

【 授权许可】

CC BY