Cardio-vascular Dysfunction and Physiological Manifestations Induced by Environmental Conditions, Volume I

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Marc-Antoine Custaud

Université d'Angers

Ronan Padraic Murphy

Dublin City University

Olga Vinogradova

Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)

Claude Gharib

Université de Lyon

François Guerrero

Université de Bretagne Occidentale

Michael D. Delp

Florida State University

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This Research Topic is part of the Cardio-vascular Dysfunction and Physiological Manifestations Induced by Environmental Conditions series:
Cardio-vascular Dysfunction and Physiological Manifestations Induced by Environmental Conditions, Volume II

Nature and its associated environmental conditions, known as environmental architecture, have shaped and influenced the evolution of our bodies and the systemic functioning of our organs over the aeons. One such natural phenomenon, Gravity, plays an important and pivotal role in regulating tissue and organ homeostasis, including that of the skeletal, muscle, neuro-vestibular, and importantly, cardiovascular system. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in the regulation of metabolism.

Our cardiovascular system is particularly well adapted to the gravity factor set at 1G, allowing efficient blood flow throughout the body under various conditions such as rest, physical exertion, standing, sitting and lying. Astonishingly, a reduction in gravitational stimuli will induce, very rapidly, a physiological and systemic de-conditioning. Space flight and ground-based models of microgravity such as Bed Rest and Dry Immersion have shown the possibilities and limitations of human adaptation to a reduction in gravitational stimulation. Over the course of the past 50 years, studies have demonstrated that the space environment and microgravity in particular, will cause changes that may affect the performance of astronauts. These physiological changes are now better known: prolonged exposure to a weightlessness environment can lead to significant loss of bone, muscle mass, strength, cardiovascular and sensory-motor de-conditioning, immune, hormonal and metabolism changes. These changes in turn are associated with an orthostatic intolerance and a decrease of global exercise capacity. These effects can be observed under conditions of weightlessness and in ground based models of microgravity (bed rest, dry immersion, hindlimb unloading of rodents, cells in culture, …) but also in situations of physical inactivity. Indeed, recent missions have revealed a new suite of physiological adaptations and consequences of space flight. Astronauts exposed to prolonged weightlessness experience ocular changes and physiological structural alterations. Direct physiological factors associated with gravity act on the heart and vessels (changes in hydrostatic pressure and transmural pressure, changes in shear stress) and which lead to both morphological and functional remodelling (eutrophic or hypertrophic remodelling, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, epigenetic changes etc). Circulating factors within the cardiovascular compartment (hormones, microparticles, platelets, white blood cells, extracellular/circulating miRNAs (ECmiRNAs) are influenced by gravitational stimuli, and may contribute to the adaptive changes observed in the cardiovascular system.
The same rationale could be applied in other physiological situations such as physical inactivity, confinement, hyperbaric and hypoxic conditions, as well as thermal changes.

The aim of this Research Topic is to collectively gather research, studies, novel thinking and findings from the cornucopia of work being undertaken in this field of medicine. This Research Topic will focus on different environmental conditions in humans and both animal and cell models, with particular attention to integrative physiology and consequences on the cardiovascular compartment. We will emphasise environmental conditions involving gravity changes, as well as comparing the observed changes induced by other environmental conditions. Through this understanding, better counter measures and preventive strategies will be proposed.

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Editors

Marc-Antoine Custaud

Université d'Angers

Ronan Padraic Murphy

Dublin City University

Olga Vinogradova

Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)

Claude Gharib

Université de Lyon

François Guerrero

Université de Bretagne Occidentale

Michael D. Delp

Florida State University

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Frontiers in Physiology

Vascular Physiology, Environmental, Aviation and Space Physiology

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