Open Access
Open access
Springer Nature
npj Microgravity
,  volume 11 ,  issue 1 ,  publication number 11

Spaceflight causes strain-dependent gene expression changes in the kidneys of mice

Rebecca H. Finch 1
, 
Geraldine Vitry 1, 2, 3
, 
Keith Siew 4
, 
Stephen B. Walsh 4
, 
Afshin Beheshti 5, 6
, 
Gary Hardiman 7, 8
, 
Willian A. da Silveira 1, 2, 9
1
 
2
 
International Space University, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France | 
3
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7
 
8
 
9
 
Publication type: Journal Article
Publication date: 2025-03-25
Springer Nature
scimago Q1
wos Q1
SJR: 1.045
CiteScore: 6.6
Impact factor: 4.1
ISSN: 23738065
Abstract

Incidence of kidney stones in astronauts is a major risk factor associated with long-term missions, caused by increased blood calcium levels due to bone demineralisation triggered by microgravity and space radiation. Transcriptomic changes have been observed in tissues during spaceflight, including the kidney. We analysed kidney transcriptome patterns in two different strains of mice flown on the International Space Station, C57BL/6J and BALB/c. Here we show a link between spaceflight and transcriptome patterns associated with dysregulation of lipid and extracellular matrix metabolism and altered transforming growth factor-beta signalling. A stronger response was seen in C57BL/6J mice than BALB/c. Genetic differences in hyaluronan metabolism between strains may confer protection against extracellular matrix remodelling through the downregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We intend for our findings to contribute to the development of new countermeasures against kidney disease in astronauts and people here on Earth.

Found 
Found 

Are you a researcher?

Create a profile to get free access to personal recommendations for colleagues and new articles.
Metrics
1
Share
Cite this
GOST |
Cite this
GOST Copy
Finch R. H. et al. Spaceflight causes strain-dependent gene expression changes in the kidneys of mice // npj Microgravity. 2025. Vol. 11. No. 1. 11
GOST all authors (up to 50) Copy
Finch R. H., Vitry G., Siew K., Walsh S. B., Beheshti A., Hardiman G., da Silveira W. A. Spaceflight causes strain-dependent gene expression changes in the kidneys of mice // npj Microgravity. 2025. Vol. 11. No. 1. 11
RIS |
Cite this
RIS Copy
TY - JOUR
DO - 10.1038/s41526-025-00465-0
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-025-00465-0
TI - Spaceflight causes strain-dependent gene expression changes in the kidneys of mice
T2 - npj Microgravity
AU - Finch, Rebecca H.
AU - Vitry, Geraldine
AU - Siew, Keith
AU - Walsh, Stephen B.
AU - Beheshti, Afshin
AU - Hardiman, Gary
AU - da Silveira, Willian A.
PY - 2025
DA - 2025/03/25
PB - Springer Nature
IS - 1
VL - 11
SN - 2373-8065
ER -
BibTex
Cite this
BibTex (up to 50 authors) Copy
@article{2025_Finch,
author = {Rebecca H. Finch and Geraldine Vitry and Keith Siew and Stephen B. Walsh and Afshin Beheshti and Gary Hardiman and Willian A. da Silveira},
title = {Spaceflight causes strain-dependent gene expression changes in the kidneys of mice},
journal = {npj Microgravity},
year = {2025},
volume = {11},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
month = {mar},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-025-00465-0},
number = {1},
pages = {11},
doi = {10.1038/s41526-025-00465-0}
}