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Persistent Expression Changes of Fibrosis-Related Genes in the Lung Tissues of Rats Exposed to Lunar Dust ParticlesThe Moon's surface is covered by a layer of fine, potential reactive dust. Lunar dust contain about 1‐2% of very fine respirable dust (less than 3 micrometers). The habitable area of any lunar landing vehicle and outpost would inevitably be contaminated with lunar dust that could pose a health risk. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the toxicity of Apollo moon dust in rodents to assess the health risk of dust exposures to humans. One of the particular interests in the study is to evaluate dust‐induced changes of the expression of fibrosis‐related genes, and to identify specific signaling pathways involved in lunar dustinduced toxicity. F344 rats were exposed for 4 weeks (6h/d; 5d/wk) in nose‐only inhalation chambers to concentrations of 0 (control air), 2.1, 6.8, 21, and 61 milligrams per cubic meters of lunar dust. Five rats per group were euthanized at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the last inhalation exposure. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected by lavaging with phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS). A zymosan‐induced luminolbased chemiluminescence assay was used to assess the activity of BAL cells. The lavaged lung tissue was snap frozen in LN2 and total RNA was isolated using the Qigen RNeasy kit. The expression of 84 fibrosisrelated genes were analyzed using the RT2 Profiler PCR Array technique. The expression of 18 genes of interest were further measured using real‐time PCR technique in all the samples. 10 out of 18 genes of interest showed persistently significant expression changes in the local lung tissue exposed to lunar dust, indicating a prolonged proinflammatory response. The expressions of several of these genes were dose‐ and time‐dependent and were significantly correlated with other pathological parameters. The potential signaling pathways and upstream regulators were further analyzed using IPA pathway analysis tool based on the gene expression data. The data presented in this study, for the first time, explore the molecular mechanisms of lunar dust induced toxicity, contributing not only the risk assessment for future space exploration, but also understandings of the dust‐induced toxicity in humans on earth.
Document ID
20140011881
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Zhang, Ye
(Wyle Science, Technology and Engineering Houston, TX, United States)
Lam, Chiu-Wing
(Wyle Science, Technology and Engineering Houston, TX, United States)
Scully, Robert R.
(Wyle Science, Technology and Engineering Houston, TX, United States)
Yeshitla, Samrawit A.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Wu, Honglu
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Meyers, Valerie
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
James, John T.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 18, 2014
Publication Date
August 2, 2014
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-30593
Meeting Information
Meeting: COSPAR Meeting
Location: Moscow
Country: Russia
Start Date: August 2, 2014
End Date: August 10, 2014
Sponsors: Lomonosov Moscow State Univ.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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