Cell Biology – Immunology – Pathology
Kidney International (2005) 67, 483–491; doi:10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.67105.x
A potential cause for kidney stone formation during space flights: Enhanced growth of nanobacteria in microgravity
NEVA ÇIFTÇIO
LU, RUWAIDA S HADDAD, D C GOLDEN, DENNIS R MORRISON and DAVID S MCKAY
Universities Space Research Association, Houston, Texas; Hernandez Engineering, Inc., Houston, Texas; and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Correspondence: Dr Neva Çiftçiolu, USRA/NASA JSC, Mail code SA13, 2101 Nasa Road 1, Houston, TX 77058. E-mail:nciftcio@ems.jsc.nasa.gov
Received 14 May 2004; Revised 19 July 2004; Accepted 16 August 2004.
Abstract
A potential cause for kidney stone formation during space flights: Enhanced growth of nanobacteria in microgravity.
Background
Although some information is available regarding the cellular/molecular changes in immune system exposed to microgravity, little is known about the reasons of the increase in the kidney stone formation in astronauts during and/or after long duration missions at zero gravity (0g). In our earlier studies, we have assessed a unique agent, nanobacteria (NB), in kidney stones and hypothesized that NB have an active role in calcium phosphate-carbonate deposition in kidney. In this research we studied effect of microgravity on multiplication and calcification of NB in vitro.
Methods
We examined NB cultures in High Aspect Rotating Vessels (HARVs) designed at the NASA's Johnson Space Center, which are designed to stimulate some aspects of microgravity. Multiplication rate and calcium phosphate composition of those NB were compared with NB cultured on stationary and shaker flasks. Collected aliquots of the cultures from different incubation periods were analyzed using spectrophotometer, SEM, TEM, EDX, and x-ray diffraction techniques.
Results
The results showed that NB multiplied 4.6
faster in HARVs compared to stationary cultures, and 3.2 faster than shaker flask conditions. X-ray diffraction and EDX analysis showed that the degree of apatite crystal formation and the properties of the apatite depend on the specific culture conditions used.
Conclusion
We now report an increased multiplication rate of NB in microgravity-simulated conditions. Thus, NB infection may have a potential role in kidney stone formation in crew members during space flights. For further proof to this hypothesis, screening of the NB antigen and antibody level in flight crew before and after flight would be necessary.
Keywords:
kidney stones, nanobacteria, microgravity
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