055 | Investigating microgravity’s dual impact through neuronal and cyanobacterial models: mechanistic insights into spirulina bioactivity and Parkinson’s disease pathology

Mohammed Amine El Faqir^1|2, Giuseppe Uras¹, Alessia Manca², Veronica Lentini², Antonella Pantaleo² | ¹Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University college London, UK; ²Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sassari, Italy.

Abstract

Microgravity, or weightlessness, poses significant challenges for biological systems in space, necessitating terrestrial models to simulate and study its effects. The random positioning machine (RPM) offers a unique platform to recreate microgravity-like conditions on Earth. This study investigates the dual impact of microgravity on Spirulina platensis, a cyanobacterium with promising biotechnological applications, and on cellular models of Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder. The research focuses on the biochemical, structural, and functional changes occurring in these systems under simulated microgravity. Spirulina platensis demonstrated altered metabolic activity, with enhanced antioxidant production and bioactive compound synthesis, supporting its potential as a sustainable resource for long-term space missions. Furthermore, cultivation under Martian Medium (MM40) and CO₂-rich atmospheres yielded higher biomass productivity compared to classical Zarrouk's Medium (ZM), emphasizing its adaptability to extraterrestrial environments. In parallel, experiments using dopaminergic neuroblastoma cell models (SH-SY5Y and 3K-SNCA) highlighted how microgravity exacerbates pathological features of PD. Key findings include accelerated alpha-synuclein aggregation, elevated reactive oxygen species levels, and disrupted lysosomal function, mimicking the cellular stress associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Remarkably, supplementation with Spirulina mitigated these adverse effects, reducing oxidative damage and stabilizing cellular metabolism. The study underscores the value of microgravity simulations in understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms relevant to space exploration and human health. By elucidating the effects of microgravity on Spirulina and PD models, this work contributes to advancing space biotechnologies and therapeutic strategies. The findings have implications for sustaining astronaut health during long-term missions and leveraging microgravity as a model for disease research, aligning with the increasing global interest in space exploration and human activities on the International Space Station and beyond.