NASA is set to launch an experiment on its upcoming SpaceX resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in late August. The investigation, called Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-B (MABL-B), aims to understand how microgravity affects bone health and explore ways to prevent bone loss.
Astronauts on long-duration missions may experience a significant reduction in bone density due to microgravity. While exercise is essential for maintaining bone health, the rate of bone loss remains uncertain. Scientists suspect that a protein called IL-6 might be the cause of this issue.
The MABL-B experiment will test ways to block the IL-6 signaling pathway, which enhances bone degradation. The research focuses on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which build new bone tissue in the body. Cells will be cultured for 19 days aboard the ISS and periodically collected for analysis back on Earth.
If successful, this research could lead to targeted treatments that protect astronauts from bone loss during long-duration missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond. The findings may also provide insights into age-related bone loss affecting millions of people on Earth.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-08-nasa-potential-bone-loss-treatment.html