Comprehensive analysis of miRNA expression, secretion profile, and functional network during myogenesis in response to spaceflight
4 affiliations
- 1Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
- 2Innovation Center for Intervention of Chronic Disease and Promotion of Health, Shanghai, China
- 3Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- 4Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, Beijing, China
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of skeletal muscle development and homeostasis. As secretory factors, previous studies have identified and validated a space flight-associated circulating microRNA (miRNA) signature in response to space flight. However, the muscle-derived miRNAs are not clear. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the variations of miRNA during mouse myoblast myogenesis in response to space flight, including expression and secretion. We validated some miRNA expression by qRT-PCR analysis in the limb muscle of a disuse-induced atrophy mouse model, mimicking the unloading following microgravity. Functional assays using miRNA mimics further supported the regulatory roles of some miRNAs in target gene expression, as well as in myoblast proliferation and differentiation. These results suggest that deregulation of these miRNAs may play a functional role in muscle atrophy, and they could be candidate biomarkers of muscle atrophy-associated muscular disease. Importantly, our analysis also suggests that spaceflight may regulate miRNA secretion and retention by modulating RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Secreted miRNAs originating from skeletal muscle cells have been implicated in various diseases affecting the nervous and skeletal systems. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential role of skeletal muscle-derived miRNAs in systemic adaptation to spaceflight.
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BibTeX
@article{kong2026comprehensive,
title = {{Comprehensive analysis of miRNA expression, secretion profile, and functional network during myogenesis in response to spaceflight}},
author = {Wenqing Kong and Mei Ma and Zhuoyang Li and Linjun Wang and Ruisen Ma and Siyi Shen and Xiaojun Yan and Ping Fan and Zhoumin Niu and Jingjing Chen and Tianyuan Qiu and Nuo Shi and Yuting Wu and Tao Zhang and Yuying Li and Hao Ying},
journal = {NPJ Microgravity},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41526-026-00632-x},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-026-00632-x},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Comprehensive analysis of miRNA expression, secretion profile, and functional network during myogenesis in response to spaceflight
AU - Wenqing Kong
AU - Mei Ma
AU - Zhuoyang Li
AU - Linjun Wang
AU - Ruisen Ma
AU - Siyi Shen
AU - Xiaojun Yan
AU - Ping Fan
AU - Zhoumin Niu
AU - Jingjing Chen
AU - Tianyuan Qiu
AU - Nuo Shi
AU - Yuting Wu
AU - Tao Zhang
AU - Yuying Li
AU - Hao Ying
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - NPJ Microgravity
DO - 10.1038/s41526-026-00632-x
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-026-00632-x
AB - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of skeletal muscle development and homeostasis. As secretory factors, previous studies have identified and validated a space flight-associated circulating microRNA (miRNA) signature in response to space flight. However, the muscle-derived miRNAs are not clear. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the variations of miRNA during mouse myoblast myogenesis in response to space flight, including expression and secretion. We validated some miRNA expression by qRT-PCR analysis in the limb muscle of a disuse-induced atrophy mouse model, mimicking the unloading following microgravity. Functional assays using miRNA mimics further supported the regulatory roles of some miRNAs in target gene expression, as well as in myoblast proliferation and differentiation. These results suggest that deregulation of these miRNAs may play a functional role in muscle atrophy, and they could be candidate biomarkers of muscle atrophy-associated muscular disease. Importantly, our analysis also suggests that spaceflight may regulate miRNA secretion and retention by modulating RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Secreted miRNAs originating from skeletal muscle cells have been implicated in various diseases affecting the nervous and skeletal systems. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential role of skeletal muscle-derived miRNAs in systemic adaptation to spaceflight.
SN - 2373-8065
ER -