Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is thought to be caused by cephalad shifts in fluid during microgravity exposure resulting in increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and symptoms such as optic disc edema, globe flattening, choroidal folds, cotton wool spot, or hyperopic shifts. In addition to increased ICP, as much as a 100% increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) can also occur, potentially affecting neuro ocular functions.

Due to its prevalence and potential mission impact, SANS is considered one of the top human system risks in the International Space Station (ISS) Program. Currently, the underlying mechanisms and symptoms associated with SANS are poorly understood with the potential for long-lasting harm to the ocular and central nervous system. Furthermore, SANS occurs as a result of microgravity exposure; however, it is thought that the mildly hypoxic environment of the ISS may exacerbate neurological symptoms. Thus, there is a need to investigate the individual and combined effects of IOP and hypoxia on ocular function.

The long-term objective of this project is to develop a tissue system to enable the study of the simultaneous effects of increased IOP and hypoxia on corneal tissue/cell function. This increased understanding will lead to the development of methods to alleviate symptoms associated with spaceflight and maintain ocular health and vision stability of astronauts. We propose to utilize our established, unique, 3D corneal tissue models, containing a neuronal component, in combination with a custom built bioreactor and hypoxia chamber to investigate tissue response to both short (days) and long-term (weeks, months) exposure to high IOP and a hypoxic environment in vitro. We hypothesize introduction of elevated IOP and hypoxia will result in increased neuronal sensitization, as well as morphological and organizational changes to the individual cell components and extracellular matrix components within our cornea tissue models.

Due to its prevalence and potential mission impact, SANS is considered one of the top human system risks in the International Space Station (ISS) Program. Currently, the underlying mechanisms and symptoms associated with SANS are poorly understood, with the potential for long-lasting harm to the ocular and central nervous system. Furthermore, SANS occurs as a result of microgravity exposure; however, it is thought that the mildly hypoxic environment of the ISS may exacerbate neurological symptoms. Thus, there is a need to investigate the individual and combined effects of IOP and hypoxia on ocular function.

The long-term objective of this project is to develop a tissue system to enable the study of the simultaneous effects of increased IOP and hypoxia on corneal tissue/cell function. This increased understanding will lead to the development of methods to alleviate symptoms associated with spaceflight and maintain ocular health and vision stability of astronauts. We propose to utilize our established, unique, 3D corneal tissue models, containing a neuronal component, in combination with a custom built bioreactor and hypoxia chamber to investigate tissue response to both short (days) and long-term (weeks, months) exposure to high IOP and a hypoxic environment in vitro. We hypothesize introduction of elevated IOP and hypoxia will result in increased neuronal sensitization, as well as morphological and organizational changes to the individual cell components and extracellular matrix components within our cornea tissue models.

Specific Aim 1:

Define the effects of intraocular pressure on function and physiology of a 3D cornea tissue model in vitro. The objective is to determine how high IOP, associated with microgravity, may effect cell function in an in vitro 3D corneal model. We hypothesize that when exposed to high (30 mmHg) IOP, similar to that found in astronauts during spaceflight, our corneal tissue model will exhibit changes in neuronal signaling and organization, as well as increased extracellular matrix (ECM) production and remodeling.

Specific Aim 2:

Define the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on function and physiology of a 3D cornea model in vitro. We hypothesize that the introduction of a hypoxic environment to the corneal tissue constructs will result in increased neuronal sensitization, changes in cellular metabolism, and increased reactive oxygen species production. Corneal constructs will be cultured in a custom hypoxia chamber for acute (days) and chronic (months) exposure studies.

Specific Aim 3:

Define the combined effects of intraocular pressure and hypobaric hypoxia on function and physiology of a 3D cornea model in vitro. We hypothesize that when combined, high IOP and a hypoxic environment will exacerbate the changes in physiology of our cornea tissue models found in Aim 1 and Aim 2. The bioreactor and hypoxia chamber systems will be interfaced to more accurately simulate the environmental conditions associated with spaceflight.

This year's work has focused on simulating hypoxia within our cornea models and investigating the response of individual cornea cell types, as well as how these cells influence one another. We have found evidence hypoxia can result in damage to the epithelial barrier of the cornea, a shift in stromal cells toward a myofibroblastic/wound healing phenotype, decreased length of neuronal axons, and alteration to cornea cytokine levels.

Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is thought to be caused by cephalad shifts in fluid during microgravity exposure resulting in increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and symptoms such as optic disc edema, globe flattening, choroidal folds, cotton wool spot, or hyperopic shifts. In addition to increased ICP, as much as a 100% increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) can also occur, potentially affecting neuro-ocular functions. Due to its prevalence and potential mission impact, SANS is considered one of the top human system risks in the International Space Station (ISS) Program. Currently, the underlying mechanisms and symptoms associated with SANS are poorly understood with the potential for long-lasting harm to the ocular and central nervous system. Furthermore, SANS occurs as a result of microgravity exposure; however, it is thought that the mildly hypoxic environment of the ISS may exacerbate neurological symptoms. Thus, there is a need to investigate the individual and combined effects of IOP and hypoxia on ocular function.

The long-term objective of this project is to develop a tissue system to enable the study of the simultaneous effects of increased IOP and hypoxia on corneal tissue/cell function. This increased understanding will lead to the development of methods to alleviate symptoms associated with spaceflight and maintain ocular health and vision stability of astronauts. We propose to utilize our established, unique, 3D corneal tissue models, containing a neuronal component, in combination with a custom built bioreactor and hypoxia chamber to investigate tissue response to both short (days) and long-term (weeks, months) exposure to high IOP and a hypoxic environment in vitro. We hypothesize introduction of elevated IOP and hypoxia will result in increased neuronal sensitization, as well as morphological and organizational changes to the individual cell components and extracellular matrix components within our cornea tissue models.

Due to its prevalence and potential mission impact, SANS is considered one of the top human system risks in the International Space Station (ISS) Program. Currently, the underlying mechanisms and symptoms associated with SANS are poorly understood with the potential for long-lasting harm to the ocular and central nervous system. Furthermore, SANS occurs as a result of microgravity exposure; however, it is thought that the mildly hypoxic environment of the ISS may exacerbate neurological symptoms. Thus, there is a need to investigate the individual and combined effects of intraocular (IOP), and hypoxia on ocular function.

The long-term objective of this project is to develop a tissue system to enable the study of the simultaneous effects of increased IOP and hypoxia on corneal tissue/cell function. This increased understanding will lead to the development of methods to alleviate symptoms associated with space flight and maintain ocular health and vision stability of astronauts. We propose to utilize our established, unique, 3D corneal tissue models, containing a neuronal component, in combination with a custom built bioreactor and hypoxia chamber to investigate tissue response to both short (days) and long-term (weeks, months) exposure to high IOP and a hypoxic environment in vitro. We hypothesize introduction of elevated IOP and hypoxia will result in increased neuronal sensitization, as well as morphological and organizational changes to the individual cell components and extracellular matrix components within our cornea tissue models.

Specific Aim 1: Define the effects of intraocular pressure on function and physiology of a 3D cornea tissue model in vitro. The objective is to determine how high IOP, associated with microgravity, may effect cell function in an in vitro 3D corneal model. We hypothesize that when exposed to high (30 mmHg) IOP, similar to that found in astronauts during spaceflight, our corneal tissue model will exhibit changes in neuronal signaling and organization, as well as increased extracellular matrix (ECM) production and remodeling.

Specific Aim 2: Define the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on function and physiology of a 3D cornea model in vitro. We hypothesize that the introduction of a hypoxic environment to the corneal tissue constructs will result in increased neuronal sensitization, changes in cellular metabolism, and increased reactive oxygen species production. Corneal constructs will be cultured in a custom hypoxia chamber for acute (days) and chronic (months) exposure studies.

Specific Aim 3: Define the combined effects of intraocular pressure and hypobaric hypoxia on function and physiology of a 3D cornea model in vitro. We hypothesize that when combined, high IOP and a hypoxic environment will exacerbate the changes in physiology of our cornea tissue models found in Aim 1 and Aim 2. The bioreactor and hypoxia chamber systems will be interfaced to more accurately simulate the environmental conditions associated with spaceflight.

Our initial work has focused on improving our 3D in vitro cornea tissue model to more accurately mimic in vivo cornea structure. Changes to our model assembly protocol have allowed for neuronal axon extension from the tissue periphery (limbus) into the tissue and upwards towards the epithelial surface, stromal cell alignment mimicking lamellae, epithelial cell barrier function, and overall lowered assembly times.

Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is thought to be caused by cephalad shifts in fluid during microgravity exposure resulting in increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and symptoms such as optic disc edema, globe flattening, choroidal folds, cotton wool spot, or hyperopic shifts. In addition to increased ICP, as much as a 100% increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) can also occur, potentially affecting neuro-ocular functions. Due to its prevalence and potential mission impact, SANS is considered one of the top human system risks in the International Space Station (ISS) Program. Currently, the underlying mechanisms and symptoms associated with SANS are poorly understood with the potential for long-lasting harm to the ocular and central nervous system. Furthermore, SANS occurs as a result of microgravity exposure; however, it is thought that the mildly hypoxic environment of the ISS may exacerbate neurological symptoms. Thus, there is a need to investigate the individual and combined effects of IOP and hypoxia on ocular function.

The long-term objective of this project is to develop a tissue system to enable the study of the simultaneous effects of increased IOP and hypoxia on corneal tissue/cell function. This increased understanding will lead to the development of methods to alleviate symptoms associated with spaceflight and maintain ocular health and vision stability of astronauts. We propose to utilize our established, unique, 3D corneal tissue models, containing a neuronal component, in combination with a custom built bioreactor and hypoxia chamber to investigate tissue response to both short (days) and long-term (weeks, months) exposure to high IOP and a hypoxic environment in vitro. We hypothesize introduction of elevated IOP and hypoxia will result in increased neuronal sensitization, as well as morphological and organizational changes to the individual cell components and extracellular matrix components within our cornea tissue models.