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Role of the Endocannabinoid System in human Lymphocytes Exposed to Microgravity-2 (ROALD-2)
04.26.13

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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview

This content was provided by Natalia Battista, Ph., and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Information provided courtesy of the Erasmus Experiment Archive.
Brief Summary

Role of the Endocannabinoid System in human Lymphocytes Exposed to Microgravity (ROALD2) investigates the function of endocannabinoids, substances produced within the body to activate cell membrane receptors, in the regulation of the immune processes and cell cycle under microgravity conditions.

Principal Investigator(s)

  • Natalia Battista, Ph., Department of Biomedical Sciences, Italy

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

  • Mauro Maccarrone, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
  • Cinzia Rapino, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
  • M. Di Tommaso, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
  • Monica Bari, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
  • V. Gasperi, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
  • Alessandro Finazzi-Agrņ, University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    • Developer(s)
    Information Pending

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    European Space Agency (ESA)

    Sponsoring Organization

    Information Pending

    Research Benefits

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration

    September 2011 - May 2012

    Expeditions Assigned

    29/30

    Previous ISS Missions

    ROALD2 expands on the objectives of the ROALD experiment flown on ISS in 2008 (BIO-4 mission), using similar experiment protocol.

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    Experiment Description

    Research Overview

    • Anandamide (AEA) is the main representative of a family of polyunsaturated fatty acid amides and esters, called endocannabinoids.


    • This project aims at investigating gene expression of the proteins involved in the metabolic control of AEA tone, in order to determine the role of this lipid in the regulation of immune processes and in the cell cycle under microgravity conditions.


    • In fact, AEA is a signal for the cells to make a choice between life and death and it might be a contributor responsible for the immune deficit observed in space.

    Description

    Information Pending

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Information Pending

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

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    Results Publications

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    Ground Based Results Publications

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    ISS Patents

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    Related Publications

      Battista N, Meloni MA, Bari M, Mastrangelo N, Galleri G, Rapino C, Dainese E, Finazzi-Agro A, Pippia P, Maccarrone M.  5-Lipoxygenase-dependent apoptosis of human lyphocytes in the International Space Station: data from the ROALD experiment. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. 2012; 26(5): 1791-1798. DOI: 10.1096/fj.11-199406. PMID: 22253478.

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    Related Websites

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    Imagery

    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Research-Helpline.
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