Proteomic and phosphoproteomic characterization of cardiovascular tissues after long term exposure to simulated space radiation

Recently, scientists conducted a study to understand how exposure to cosmic radiation (GCR) might affect our hearts. They found that after being exposed to this type of radiation in experiments with animals similar to us humans and rabbits, there were some changes observed both inside the heart's arteries and at the molecular level involving proteins important for maintaining healthy tissue function. The researchers noticed alterations in how elastic or stretchable our blood vessels are after exposure to cosmic radiation-a change that could potentially impact their ability to pump blood efficiently throughout the body, which is vital for overall heart health and well-being. They also saw signs of damage at a microscopic level within the arteries themselves. Interestingly, they discovered changes in levels of certain proteins known as EGFRs (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors) which are important for cell growth and repair-a decrease was observed after exposure to cosmic radiation compared to animals that were not exposed but treated normally.

In a recent study by Bishawi et al. (2022), researchers investigated long-term functional changes in cardiac function following acute exposure to Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) using ion beams as surrogates for GCR particles, with implications relevant to space travel and radiation therapy on Earth. The study's methodology involved administering a single dose of Ion Beam Therapy (IBT) containing 5-ion clusters in rodent models before euthanizing the animals at various time points post-exposure for analysis, including arterial elastance measurements and histological examination. Key findings revealed that GCR exposure led to persistent changes in heart function characterized by altered arterial stiffness (elastance) and evidence of aortic wall fragmentation at the molecular level-specifically, decreased levels of EGFR protein were observed when compared with age-matched controls. The study also noted modest reductions in cardiac and plasma protein abundance as well as phosphorylation statuses up to 9 months post GCR exposure.