Stem cells in space: microgravity effects on stem cell fate and implications for regenerative medicine

Sungmin Kim; KyeongHyeok Min; Yun-Gwi Park; Sung-Hwan Moon

doi:10.1038/s41526-025-00547-z

Stem cells in space: microgravity effects on stem cell fate and implications for regenerative medicine

Sungmin Kim, KyeongHyeok Min, Yun-Gwi Park, Sung-Hwan Moon^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

Abstract

Microgravity offers a unique platform for understanding how physical forces influence the fate and function of stem cells. This review integrates recent findings on genomic, epigenetic, and mechanotransductive responses of diverse stem cell types under actual and simulated microgravity conditions. It uniquely relates these biological insights with space-based biomanufacturing, translational applications, and ethical frameworks, highlighting how space-enabled stem cell research advances regenerative medicine both in orbit and on Earth.

Original language	English
Article number	6
Number of pages	9
Journal	npj Microgravity
Volume	12
Issue number	1
Early online date	2 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00547-z
Publication status	Published - 8 Jan 2026

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© The Author(s) 2025.

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abstract = "Microgravity offers a unique platform for understanding how physical forces influence the fate and function of stem cells. This review integrates recent findings on genomic, epigenetic, and mechanotransductive responses of diverse stem cell types under actual and simulated microgravity conditions. It uniquely relates these biological insights with space-based biomanufacturing, translational applications, and ethical frameworks, highlighting how space-enabled stem cell research advances regenerative medicine both in orbit and on Earth.",

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AB - Microgravity offers a unique platform for understanding how physical forces influence the fate and function of stem cells. This review integrates recent findings on genomic, epigenetic, and mechanotransductive responses of diverse stem cell types under actual and simulated microgravity conditions. It uniquely relates these biological insights with space-based biomanufacturing, translational applications, and ethical frameworks, highlighting how space-enabled stem cell research advances regenerative medicine both in orbit and on Earth.

U2 - 10.1038/s41526-025-00547-z

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Stem cells in space: microgravity effects on stem cell fate and implications for regenerative medicine

Abstract

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