Gene Expression Profile of Gm20594 and Hapln1 in Mouse Cardiac Muscle Exposed to Microgravity and Space-like Chronic Low-Dose Radiation

Exposure to cosmic radiation and microgravity has led to adverse health effects, including cardiac dysfunction, in astronauts after spaceflight. To better understand the underlying mechanisms, we concurrently exposed C57BL/6J mice to chronic irradiation and simulated microgravity for 30 days and collected cardiac tissue for gene expression profiling. Gm20594 and Hapln1 were found to be significantly differentiated in mouse cardiac muscle exposed to simulated microgravity and chronic irradiation. Existing literature detailing the typical function of these genes indicates that their differential expression can lead to heightened cardiovascular risk due to heart inflammation, reduced contractility, and increased apoptosis.