The Integrated Biobank for Space Life Science (ibSLS) is a database of multi-omics data, constructed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Tohoku University Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (ToMMo) that enhances data/sample sharing related to space biology. The database includes data of transcriptome and metabolome analyses of mice after staying at the International Space Station (ISS).

Within the past few decades, space research has been within our reach, allowing us to gain a greater understanding of the universe, and to be able to advance science and technology on Earth. However, our understanding of molecular changes during space travel remains unclear, along with the hazards of human spaceflight. Two major health hazards related to spaceflight are space radiation and microgravity, where changes including but not limited to cardio, immune and muscle/skeletal systems can be at risk of detrimental health consequences.

With ToMMo aiming to contribute to a healthy and long-lived society through the development of precision medicine and personalized healthcare; ToMMo has signed a partnership agreement with JAXA in using the “Kibo” Experiment Module on the ISS to obtain data on the effects of spaceflight. Not only is this Japan’s First Genetically-modified Mouse Project in space, but globally, it is the first time where living mice sent to space are able to return back to earth alive. It is truly the ‘Decade of Space Mouse’.

The mission has been conducted to study the role of Nrf2, an environment-responsive transcription factor, in protection of mice against the stresses related to spaceflight. And this mission is named as MHU-3. In the mission, six wild-type (WT) and six Nrf2-KO (KO) mice have been launched to the ISS for habitation in a mouse experimental system in space Mouse Habitat Unit (MHU). After 31 days habitation in space, all 12 mice returned to the Earth alive. These flight (FL) mice were then compared to ground control (GC) mice and transcriptome and metabolome analyses have been conducted.

Using ibSLS, anyone can access data of transcriptome and metabolome analyses of MHU-3 mission. The transcriptome analyses of liver, kidney, cerebrum, spleen, thymus, temporal bone, mandible and white and brown adipose tissues of the mice and plasma metabolome analyses of the mission are now available on the ibSLS.

In addition, the metabolome data of the mouse mission can be easily compared with human plasma metabolome data of the Japanese multi-omics reference panel (jMorp). ToMMo endeavors to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of spaceflight in humans.

To find out more about ibSLS please visit the following link.

Related Link

Study Reveals Nrf2 Critical Role in Regulating our Metabolism in Space [Press Release]

Integrated Biobank for Space Life Science (JAXA website)

Mouse Habitat Unit -3 (Mouse Stress Defense) -Role of Environmental Stress-responsive Transcription Factor Nrf2 in Space Stress- (JAXA website)