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Chromosomal Aberrations in Blood Lymphocytes of Astronauts (Chromosome)
07.17.09

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

White blood cells (lymphocytes) are collected from crewmembers preflight and postflight. The lymphocytes are examined using different analytic methods to determine quantity and quality of genetic changes resulting from exposure to cosmic radiation, particularly ionizing radiation.

Principal Investigator

  • Guenter Obe, Ph.D., University of Duisburg - Essen, Essen, Germany

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

  • Markus Horstmann, Ph.D., University of Duisburg - Essen, Essen, Germany
  • Christian Johannes, Ph.D., University of Duisburg - Essen, Essen, Germany
  • Wolfgang Goedecke, Ph.D., University of Duisburg - Essen, Essen, Germany

    • Payload Developer

    Johnson Space Center, Human Research Program, Houston, TX

    Sponsoring Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |6|7|8|9|10|11|13|

    Previous ISS Missions

    An earlier version of this experiment flew on the Space Shuttle and the Russian Space Station Mir. This investigation has been performed on ISS Expeditions 6-11.

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • This study will assess changes in the morphology of chromosomes, particularly chromosomal aberrations. The frequency and the type of chromosomal aberrations depend on characteristics and doses of ionizing radiation the crewmembers are exposed to while in orbit.


    • Chromosomes collected from blood lymphocytes are scored for different types of abnormalities before and after a stay on ISS. Some of the analysis methods are new, and will provide a new way of visualizing all changes, particularly those increasing the risk of cancer.

    Description

    Crewmembers are exposed to radiation when they leave the protection of Earth's atmosphere. Ionizing radiation in particular can damage chromosomes, causing mutations such as chromosome aberrations. To assess the genetic impact of this radiation, blood is drawn before and immediately after flight by venous puncture. The blood is then cultured and the lymphocytes are stimulated to undergo mitosis (the process of cell division). In the first mitosis, at about 48 hours of incubation, the process is stopped and the chromosomes are prepared and stained using three different methods of microscopic analysis to assess all types of aberrations induced by ionizing radiations. These methods are:

    • Classic Giesma staining, which allows the researcher to investigate changes in the morphology of the chromosomes. Chromosomes have a natural x-shape. Structural changes detected using Giesma include dicentric (the two chromatids of each chromosome are attached twice) and ring chromosomes or fragments (chromosome pieces without a centromere).


    • Multicolor Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (mFISH), which scores reciprocal translocations and insertions (exchange of parts between different chromosomes).


    • Multicolor Banding Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (mBAND) of the selected chromosome pair 5, which scores for inversions and translocations between homologous chromosomes (exchange or relocation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) parts within the same chromosome pair).
    A quantitative comparison between preflight and postflight aberration values will give information about the chromosome-breaking effects of cosmic radiation in blood lymphocytes of space travelers. Information will be generated concerning the participation of each chromosome pair in aberration formation as well as the interchromosomal and intrachromosomal distribution of different aberration types. The association of chromosomal aberrations with an enhanced cancer risk stresses the importance of the planned research.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    From this study scientists may be able to better assess risk factors for genetic damage in space and help develop new methods for protecting crewmembers. Understanding and reducing the risk of radiation is important for safe long duration travel in space, including stays on the Moon and travel to Mars.

    Earth Applications

    The knowledge gained from this investigation will give scientist's insight into the exact chromosome from which particular mutations arise.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Chromosome does not have any inflight requirements. Samples will be taken before and after flight.

    Operational Protocols

    The researchers will take venous blood samples (10 to 15 ml from the crew participants shortly before and after flight.

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    Results/More Information

    In each Expedition where the experiment has been conducted, preflight and postflight blood samples were drawn from each crewmember. To ensure high-quality results, the blood samples arrive at the laboratory within 72 hours after collection. Researchers are currently measuring changes in the genetic material and analyzing their significance and will release preliminary conclusions soon. From this study scientists may be able to better assess risk factors for genetic damage in space. Understanding and reducing the risk of radiation is important for safe long-duration travel in space, including stays on the moon and journeys to Mars.

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    Related Web Sites
  • Department of Genetics and Cytogenetics, University of Essen
  • International Space Station Medical Project (ISSMP)

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications
      • Barry PL. Was Einstein Wrong About Space Travel? Science@NASA. Mar 22, . 2006
      • Wu H, George K, Willingham V, Cucinotta FA. Comparison of chromosome aberration frequencies in pre- and post-flight astronaut lymphocytes irradiated in vitro with gamma rays. Physica Medica. ;17 Suppl 1:229-231. 2001
      • Fedorenko B, Druzhinin S, Yudaeva L, Petrov V, Akatov Y, Snigiryova G, Novitskaya N, Shevchenko V, Rubanovich A. Cytogenetic studies of blood lymphocytes from cosmonauts after long-term space flights on Mir station. Advanced Space Research. ;27(2):355-359. 2001
      • Chatterjee A, Borak TH. Physical and biological studies with protons and HZE particles in a NASA supported research center in radiation health. Physica Medica. ;17 Suppl 1:59-66. 2001
      • Kawata T, Durante M, George K, Furusawa Y, Gotoh E, Takai N, Wu H, Cucinotta FA. Kinetics of chromatid break repair in G2-human fibroblasts exposed to low- and high-LET radiations. Physica Medica. ;17 Suppl 1:226-228. 2001
      • George K, Wu H, Willingham V, Cucinotta FA. The effect of space radiation on the induction of chromosome damage. Physica Medica. ;17 Suppl 1:222-5. 2001
      • Obe G, Johannes I, Johannes C, Hallman K, Reitz G, Facius R. Chromosomal aberrations in blood lymphocytes of astronauts after long-term space flights. International Journal of Radiation Biology. ;72(6):727-734. 1997
      • Wolf G, Obe G, Bergau L. Cytogenetic investigations in flight personnel. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. ;86(4):275-278. 1999
      • Johannes C, Horstmann M, Durante M, Chudoba I, Obe G. Chromosome intrachanges and interchanges detected by multicolor banding in lymphocytes: searching for clastogen signatures in the human genome. Radiation Research. ;161:540-548. 2004
      • Obe G, Facius R, Reitz G, Johannes I, Johannes C. Manned missions to Mars and chromosome damage. International Journal of Radiation Biology. ;75:429-433. 1999
      • Horstmann M, Durante M, Johannes C, Obe G. Chromosomal intrachanges induced by swift iron ions. Advances in Space Research. ;35:276-279. 2005

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      Images

      imageGiemsa stained metaphase with a chromatid break (one of the arms of the chromosome broke off). Image on the right is a detailed of the chromatid break. It is also visible in the image on the left, in the lower right corner of the picture. Image courtesy of NASA.
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      imageGiemsa stained metaphase with several aberrations, i.e. polycentric chromosomes and acentric fragments. Polycentric chromosomes are attached to each other multiple times (unaltered chromosomes have one center). Acentric fragments have no attachment to the rest of the chromosome they originate from. Image courtesy of NASA.
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      imageResearchers use mFISH to study human chromosomal pairs. Multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) metaphase with an interstitial deletion of chromosome 1. The Chromosome 1 pair are the long yellow chromosomes located in the right center of the (that is the chromosome with the deletion) and on the left outer center of the picture. Image courtesy of University of Duisburg-Essen.
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      imageResearchers use mFISH to study human chromosomal pairs. Multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) metaphase with an interstitial deletion of chromosome 1. Chromosomes organized according to their pair number. Image courtesy of University of Duisburg-Essen.
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      imageMulti-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) metaphase with a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 3 and 7. Image courtesy of University of Duisburg-Essen.
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      imageMulti-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) metaphase with a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 3 and 7. Chromosomes organized according to their pair number. Image courtesy of University of Duisburg-Essen.
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      imageMulti-color banding fluorescence in situ hybridization (mBAND) is done on Chromosome 5 only. This image depicts a chromosome 5 with an interstitial deletion (part of the chromosome is detached). Image courtesy of University of Duisburg-Essen.
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      imageMulti-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) metaphase with a complex translocation pattern. Translocations are present between chromosome 3 and the X-chromosome; chromosomes 7 and 21, and chromosomes 7, 12 and 15.Image courtesy of University of Duisburg-Essen.
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      imageMulti-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) metaphase with a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 11 (encircled). Image courtesy of University of Duisburg-Essen.
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      Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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