Mouse Macrophage Differentiation During Space Shuttle STS-126 Flight

NASA's dataset evaluates in vitro macrophage differentiation during the STS-126 space shuttle flight. It contains flow cytometry data for cell surface markers (CD11b, CD31, CD44, Ly6C, Ly6G, F4/80, Mac2, c-Fos, c-Fms) and gene microarray results from mouse bone marrow cells cultured for 14 days in microgravity. The data was last updated on 2026-03 13.

Use Cases

• Analyzing differences in macrophage cell surface marker expression (CD11b, CD31, F4/80, Mac2, Ly6C, c-Fos) based on flow cytometry data.
• Modeling gene expression patterns related to macrophage differentiation and proliferation from microarray data.
• Investigating the impact of space flight on genes associated with the coagulation pathway.
• Testing hypotheses about receptor expression (c-Fms) during cell development in microgravity.

Strengths

• Data was collected during an actual space shuttle mission (STS-126), providing a unique microgravity context.
• Includes both flow cytometry data for multiple cell markers and gene microarray transcript data.
• Experimental design includes a 14-day differentiation period with a ground control for comparison.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is stored in a BIN file format, which may require specialized tools for access.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Mouse bone marrow cells were differentiated with rM-CSF for 14 days during space flight; cells and RNA were preserved for later flow cytometry and microarray analysis.

Time Range

Covers the period of the STS-126 space shuttle mission.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:20:21.223490; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Data collection occurred in space (microgravity) and with controls on Earth.