NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

OpNom:

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

Experiment Overview


Brief Summary

Commercial Biomedical Testing Module-3: Assessment of sclerostin antibody as a novel bone forming agent for prevention of spaceflight-induced skeletal fragility in mice (CBTM-3-Sclerostin Antibody) is one in a series of investigations designed to determine if administering an experimental agent preflight reduces the loss of bone associated with space flight. Humans and animals have been observed to lose bone mass during the reduced gravity of space flight. The sclerostin antibody is designed to inhibit the action of "sclerostin", a protein that is a key negative regulator of bone formation, bone mass and bone strength.

Principal Investigator(s)

Chris Paszty, Ph.D., Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, United States

Ted A. Bateman, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Louis S. Stodieck, Ph.D., University of Colorado, BioServe Space Technologies, Boulder, CO, United States

Hua Zhu (David) Ke, M.D., Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, United States

Martyn Robinson, PhD., UCB in Brussels, Brussels, Belgium

Virginia L. Ferguson, Ph.D., BioServe Space Technologies, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States

Mary L. Bouxsein, Ph.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Information Pending

Developer(s)

University of Colorado at Boulder, BioServe Space Technologies, Boulder, CO, United States
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United States
Amgen Research, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States

Sponsoring Space Agency

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Sponsoring Organization

National Laboratory (NL)

ISS Expedition Duration

March 2011 - September 2011

Expeditions Assigned

27/28

Previous ISS Missions

A similar investigation, CBTM, flew round trip to the ISS on STS-108 during ISS Expedition 4. CBTM-2 flew round trip to the ISS on STS-118 during ISS Expedition 15. AEMs have flown on numerous space shuttle missions over the years.

^ back to top

---

Experiment Description

Research Overview

• The loss of bone mass during space flight remains a significant problem for human space missions, especially long-duration space flights. Varieties of countermeasures have been tried, mostly based on exercise, but have not proven to be totally effective in reducing bone loss.



• Commercial Biomedical Testing Module-3: Assessment of sclerostin antibody as a novel bone forming agent for prevention of spaceflight-induced skeletal fragility in mice (CBTM-3-Sclerostin Antibody) is an investigation focusing on a novel experimental agent. The agent is an antibody against the protein, sclerostin, a protein that is known to inhibit bone formation. If the agent is effective in reducing or preventing bone loss in mice during the flight, then it will demonstrate the potential for pharmacologic inhibition of sclerostin to be further tested for use in astronauts and in patients under disuse conditions. A different sclerostin antibody than the one being used for this STS-135 mouse study is currently in clinical trials as a collaboration between Amgen Inc. and UCB.

Description

Commercial Biomedical Testing Module-3: Assessment of sclerostin antibody as a novel bone forming agent for prevention of spaceflight-induced skeletal fragility in mice (CBTM-3-Sclerostin Antibody) is part of a suite of investigations studying the ability of novel experimental agents to prevent disuse induced bone loss, and extend current knowledge about the effects of microgravity on the musculoskeletal system and the ability of a ground-based analog system (rodent hind limb suspension) to reproduce those effects in mice. The ultimate objective is to mitigate the risk for space-induced skeletal fragility associated with missions to low Earth orbit, and exploration destinations. If the sclerostin antibody proves successful in reducing space flight induced bone mass loss in mice, then it will demonstrate the potential for pharmacologic inhibition of sclerostin to be used in astronauts. Beyond the perils of microgravity, the findings may also provide novel insight into prevention and treatment of the skeletal fragility that can result from “skeletal disuse” in such conditions as immobilization, stroke, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, and reduced physical activity. Eight to ten mice are flown in each of three Animal Enclosure Modules (AEMs) (http://flighthardware-spacebiosciences.arc.nasa.gov/) located on the space shuttle middeck. Half of the mice are given a preflight injection of a novel experimental bone forming agent, an antibody designed to inhibit the activity of the protein “sclerostin”. The remaining mice receive a placebo. Following the flight, a team of scientists, are studying various aspects of the structure, composition, strength, and cell and molecular nature of the bones from the flight and ground-based control mice. Bones from mice receiving the bone forming agent are compared to those receiving the placebo and are also compared to a ground control group, i.e., mice that were housed in AEM's on the ground during the flight.

This research is also expected to contribute data to the current body of research on microgravity effects on the skeletal, cardiovascular, and immune systems, liver and kidney function as well as other physiological systems through a tissue sharing program. Every effort will be made to harvest as many different samples and types of tissue from the mice as possible for other mission specific biomedical research. Positive results from this research may advance our understanding of mechanistic changes that occur in various physiological systems after exposure to microgravity and support overall efforts to reduce health risks to crewmembers. The investigations resulting from the CBTM-3 tissue sharing program are as follows:

• Brain
  • Alan R. Hargens, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA
  • Michael Pecaut, Ph.D, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
  • Gregory A. Nelson, Ph.D. , Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
  • Xiao Wen Mao, M.D., Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
• Eyes
  • Susana B. Zanello, Ph.D., Universities Space Research Association, Houston, TX
  • Xiao Wen Mao, M.D., Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
• Lung
  • Roberto Garofalo, M.D., University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
  • Xiao Wen Mao, M.D., Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
• Kidneys and Small Intestine
  • Moshe Levi, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
• Liver
  • Karen Jonscher, Ph.D.,  University of Colorado, Denver CO
  • Michael Pecaut, Ph.D, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
  • Jian Tian, Ph.D., Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
  • Scott  M. Smith, Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
  • Virginia E. Wotring, Ph.D., Universities Space Research Association, Houston, TX
• Metatarsals
  • Eduardo Almeida, Ph.D.,  Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
• Distal Tibia and Tarsus
  • Hiroki Yokota, Ph.D., Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
• Thymus
  • Millie Hughes-Fulford, Ph.D.,  University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
  • Daila S. Gridley, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
• Spleen
  • Millie Hughes-Fulford, Ph.D.,  University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
  • Michael Pecaut, Ph.D, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
• Extensor digitorum longus, transversus abdominis and masseter muscle
  • Elisabeth R. Barton, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
• Temporal Bones
  • Richard D. Boyle, Ph.D., Universities Space Research Association, Moffett Field, CA
  • Larry F. Hoffman, Ph.D.,  University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
  • Shin-ichi Usami, M.D., Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan
• Cerebral Artery, Mesenteric Vein, Heart, Soleus
  • Michael D. Delp, Ph.D.,  University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• Adrenals
•     Michael Pecaut, Ph.D, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
• Femoral Heads, Quadriceps and Skin
  • David Fitzgerald, Ph.D.,  Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
• Tail
  • Alan R. Hargens, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA
• Heart, Soleus, Extensor digitoum longus and transversus abdominis
  • Brooke C. Harrison, Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
• Biceps brachii and Triceps brachi
  • Akihiko Ishihara, Ph.D.,  Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
• Skin
  • Xiao Wen Mao, M.D., Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
  • Masahiro Terada, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tsukuba, Japan
• Uterine horn, ovaries, stomach
  • Joseph S. Tash, Ph.D., University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
• Distal Colon and Fecal Pellets
  • Scott  M. Smith, Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
• Salivary glands and 1/4 the left ventricle
  • Maija Mednieks, Ph.D., University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT
• Humerus, rotator cuff, scapula units  and Achilles tendon calcaneus units
  • Stavros Thomopoulos, Ph.D., Washington University, St. Louis, MO
• Meniscus
  • Jeffrey Willey, Ph.D.,  Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC

^ back to top

---

Applications

Space Applications

If the novel bone forming agent proves successful in mitigating bone mass loss in-flight, this would demonstrate the potential application of pharmacologic sclerostin inhibition as a countermeasure for use in long-duration human space flight missions.

Earth Applications

If the sclerostin antibody proves successful in reducing space flight induced bone mass loss, the results may point towards possible prevention and treatment of the bone loss that can result from “skeletal disuse” in such conditions as immobilization, stroke, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, and reduced physical activity.

^ back to top

---

Operations

Operational Requirements

AEM's with eight to ten mice each are requested for a late load (Launch minus 72 to 24 hours) and to be removed postflight within four hours of landing. During flight the crew is requested to conduct a daily health check of the mice, i.e., a visual observation through the Lexan lid of the AEMs. Unusual appearances of the mice are to be reported as soon as possible.

Operational Protocols

For this study nine week old female C57BL/6 mice are launched on the space shuttle. Flight mice are treated once with a placebo vehicle or the bone forming agent approximately 24 hours before launch. Ground control mice are treated in the same manner but with a 48 hour offset. Ground control mice are housed under the same environmental conditions (temperature, light/dark cycle, humidity, oxygen levels and carbon dioxide levels) as the flight mice. All mice receive the same full access to food and water. Upon return to Earth, the AEMs are returned to the research team for analysis. Body weight is also measured preflight and postflight. Statistical comparisons will be made between the treated and control mice.

^ back to top

---

Results/More Information

Information Pending

^ back to top

---

Results Publications

^ back to top

---

Ground Based Results Publications

^ back to top

---

ISS Patents

^ back to top

---

Related Publications

O-Brien CA, Plotkin LI, Galli C, Goellner JJ, Gortazar AR, Allen MR, Robling A, Schipani E, Turner CH, Jilka RL, Weinstein RS, Manolagas SC, Bellido T, Bouxsein ML..  Control of bone mass and remodeling by PTH receptor signaling in osteocytes. PLoS ONE. 2008; 3(8): 2942.


Jee WS.  Anti-sclerostin antibody increases bone mass by stimulating bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption in a hindlimb-immobilization rat model. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2008; 23(1): S40.


Fergusona VL, Ayersa RA, Batemana TA, Simske SJ.  Bone development and age-related bone loss in male C57BL/6J mice. Bone. 2003; 33(3): 387-398.


Lang TF, Leblanc AD, Evans E, Lu Y, Genant HK., Yu A.  Cortical and Trabecular Bone Mineral Loss from the Spine and Hip in Long-duration Spaceflight. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2004; 19(6): 1006-1012. DOI: 10.1359/JBMR.040307.


Devlin MJ, Cloutier AM, Thomas NA, Panus DA, Lotinun S, Pinz I, Baron R, Rosen CJ, Bouxsein ML..  Caloric restriction leads to high marrow adiposity and low bone mass in growing mice. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2010; 25(9): 2078-88.


Li X.  Inhibition of sclerostin by monoclonal antibody increases bone formation, bone mass, and bone strength in aged male rats. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2010; 25(12): 2647-2656.


Liu X, Bruxvoort KJ, Zylstra CR, Liu J, Cichowski R, Faugere MC, Wan C, Williams BO, Clemens TL, Bouxsein ML..  Lifelong accumulation of bone in mice lacking Pten in osteoblasts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2007; 104(7): 2259-64.


Lin C, Jiang X, Guo X, Weng T, Wang J, Li Y, Dai Z, Feng G, Gao X, He L.  Sclerostin mediates bone response to mechanical unloading through antagonizing Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2009; 24(10): 1651-1661.


Fajardo RJ, Manoharan RK, Pearsall RS, Davies MV, Marvell T, Monnell TE, Ucran JA, Pearsall AE, Khanzode D, Kumar R, Underwood KW, Roberts B, Seehra J, Bouxsein ML..  Treatment with a soluble receptor for activin improves bone mass and structure in the axial and apendicular skeleton of female cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Bone. 2010; 46(1): 64-71.

^ back to top

---

Related Websites

BioServe

Space Biosciences Division

^ back to top

---

Imagery

NASA Image: S118E09327 - STS-118 Mission Specialist Tracy Caldwell and Pilot Charles Hobaugh observing the Animal Enclosure Modules (AEMs) in the Middeck of the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
+ View Larger Image


Animal Enclosure Modules (AEMs) from NASA Ames Research Center. Image courtesy of NASA.
+ View Larger Image