Funding Status:
Completed - Task has been completed
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Procurement Mechanism(s):
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| NASA Research Announcement |
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Aims:
1: Examine the combined effects of a modeled solar particle event and unloading on bone, and subsequent recovery during reloading. Hypothesis: Proton radiation with unloading will induce a more severe bone loss than unloading alone.
2: Examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms for initiating bone loss following exposure to several types of modeled space radiation, including acute proton exposure, low-dose-rate proton exposure, and mixed radiation types (proton and HZE). Understanding underlying molecular causes is critical to developing countermeasures for radiation-induced bone loss. Hypothesis: The initiating mechanism of bone loss is initiated by osteoclast activation caused by a radiation-induced inflammatory response.
3: Test the efficacy of three countermeasures for bone loss caused by proton exposure: 1) the bisphosphonate risedronate; 2) the RANKL blocking protein osteoprotegerin, and 3) an antioxidant agent, alpha-lipoic acid. Hypothesis: Potent inhibitors of bone resorption, both zoledronate and osteoprotegerin will prevent the bone loss caused by radiation. Antioxidants will address multiple radiation-induced problems; alpha-lipoic acid decreases osteoclast differentiation and activity.