Stem cells are special in that they can continually multiply and differentiate into many other types of cells. Now scientists have discovered that their superpowers greatly increase when they grow up in space. Based on experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS), researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Florida found that a microgravity environment further enhances some of the regenerative abilities of stem cells.

Because stem cells play a crucial role in the body’s repair process due to their ability to rapidly proliferate and differentiate, these findings may aid studies in disease prevention and treatment.

“Studying stem cells in space has revealed cellular mechanisms that would be undetectable or unknown in normal gravity,” says Abba Zubair, a pathologist at the Mayo Clinic. “This finding points to the broader scientific value of this research, including potential clinical applications.”

The team specifically studied the behavior of adult stem cells on the ISS, which are more limited in how they divide and transform compared to embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells are often grown outside the body by scientists to study and treat diseases, but this is a complex, time-consuming and expensive process.

This research shows that space laboratories could solve some of these problems. Different types of stem cells were tested and all showed positive results: mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), for example, have been shown to be better at managing immune system responses and reducing inflammation when grown in microgravity.

For the various types of stem cells tested, scientists observed overall improvements in the way the cells expanded and the stability of their proliferation even after returning to Earth. There is much work to be done, but the potential for stem cells to grow in greater numbers and faster in microgravity already exists.

“The space environment offers an advantage for the growth of stem cells by providing a more natural three-dimensional situation for their expansion, much like the growth of cells in the human body,” says Zubair. “This compares to the two-dimensional culture medium available on Earth, which is less likely to mimic human tissue.”

Normally our adult stem cells cope with the normal wear and tear of the body. However, when things go wrong, an extra infusion of lab-grown cells can be crucial, as a number of new treatments have shown.

The research team is also confident that cells grown in space will help treat diseases associated with aging, including neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke, cancer and dementia.

“Space exploration so far is only a starting point,” says Zubair. “As research continues to explore the use of space to advance regenerative medicine, a broader perspective for stem cell applications is possible.” The research was published in the journal NPJ Microgravity.