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Adamopoulos KI, Sanders LM, Costes SV. NASA GeneLab derived microarray studies of Mus musculus and Homo sapiens organisms in altered gravitational conditions. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:49. [PMID: 38671027 PMCID: PMC11053165 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00392-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the greatest challenges of humanity for deep space exploration is to fully understand how altered gravitational conditions affect human physiology. It is evident that the spaceflight environment causes multiple alterations to musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, immune and central nervous systems, to name a few known effects. To better characterize these biological effects, we compare gene expression datasets from microarray studies found in NASA GeneLab, part of the NASA Open Science Data Repository. In this review, we summarize these archived results for various tissues, emphasizing key genes which are highly reproducible in different mice or human experiments. Such exhaustive mining shows the potential of NASA Open Science data to identify and validate mechanisms taking place when mammalian organisms are exposed to microgravity or other spaceflight conditions. Our comparative meta-analysis findings highlight certain degrees of overlap and reproducibility in genes identified as differentially expressed within musculoskeletal tissues in each species across a variety of altered gravity conditions. However, the level of overlap between species was found to be significantly limited, partly attributed to the limited availability of human samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos I Adamopoulos
- National Technical University of Athens, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, Zografou, Athens, Greece
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Lauren M Sanders
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
- NASA Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Sylvain V Costes
- NASA Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.
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Tran MT, Ho CNQ, Hoang SN, Doan CC, Nguyen MT, Van HD, Ly CN, Le CPM, Hoang HNQ, Nguyen HTM, Truong HT, To QM, Nguyen TTT, Le LT. Morphological Changes of 3T3 Cells under Simulated Microgravity. Cells 2024; 13:344. [PMID: 38391957 PMCID: PMC10887114 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cells are sensitive to changes in gravity, especially the cytoskeletal structures that determine cell morphology. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of simulated microgravity (SMG) on 3T3 cell morphology, as demonstrated by a characterization of the morphology of cells and nuclei, alterations of microfilaments and microtubules, and changes in cycle progression. METHODS 3T3 cells underwent induced SMG for 72 h with Gravite®, while the control group was under 1G. Fluorescent staining was applied to estimate the morphology of cells and nuclei and the cytoskeleton distribution of 3T3 cells. Cell cycle progression was assessed by using the cell cycle app of the Cytell microscope, and Western blot was conducted to determine the expression of the major structural proteins and main cell cycle regulators. RESULTS The results show that SMG led to decreased nuclear intensity, nuclear area, and nuclear shape and increased cell diameter in 3T3 cells. The 3T3 cells in the SMG group appeared to have a flat form and diminished microvillus formation, while cells in the control group displayed an apical shape and abundant microvilli. The 3T3 cells under SMG exhibited microtubule distribution surrounding the nucleus, compared to the perinuclear accumulation in control cells. Irregular forms of the contractile ring and polar spindle were observed in 3T3 cells under SMG. The changes in cytoskeleton structure were caused by alterations in the expression of major cytoskeletal proteins, including β-actin and α-tubulin 3. Moreover, SMG induced 3T3 cells into the arrest phase by reducing main cell cycle related genes, which also affected the formation of cytoskeleton structures such as microfilaments and microtubules. CONCLUSIONS These results reveal that SMG generated morphological changes in 3T3 cells by remodeling the cytoskeleton structure and downregulating major structural proteins and cell cycle regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh Thi Tran
- Faculty of Applied Technology, School of Technology, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam;
| | - Chi Nguyen Quynh Ho
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
- Biotechnology Department, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ha Noi City 100000, Vietnam
| | - Son Nghia Hoang
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
- Biotechnology Department, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ha Noi City 100000, Vietnam
| | - Chung Chinh Doan
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
- Biotechnology Department, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ha Noi City 100000, Vietnam
| | - Minh Thai Nguyen
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
| | - Huy Duc Van
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
| | - Cang Ngoc Ly
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
| | - Cuong Phan Minh Le
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
| | - Huy Nghia Quang Hoang
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
- Biotechnology Department, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ha Noi City 100000, Vietnam
| | - Han Thai Minh Nguyen
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
- Biotechnology Innovation Center, University of New Hampshire, Manchester, NH 03101, USA
| | - Han Thi Truong
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea;
| | - Quan Minh To
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam;
| | - Tram Thi Thuy Nguyen
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
- Faculty of General Biomedical, University of Physical Education and Sport, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
| | - Long Thanh Le
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (C.N.Q.H.); (S.N.H.); (C.C.D.); (M.T.N.); (H.D.V.); (C.N.L.); (C.P.M.L.); (H.N.Q.H.); (H.T.M.N.); (T.T.T.N.)
- Biotechnology Department, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ha Noi City 100000, Vietnam
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Graf J, Schulz H, Wehland M, Corydon TJ, Sahana J, Abdelfattah F, Wuest SL, Egli M, Krüger M, Kraus A, Wise PM, Infanger M, Grimm D. Omics Studies of Tumor Cells under Microgravity Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:926. [PMID: 38255998 PMCID: PMC10815863 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is defined as a group of diseases characterized by abnormal cell growth, expansion, and progression with metastasis. Various signaling pathways are involved in its development. Malignant tumors exhibit a high morbidity and mortality. Cancer research increased our knowledge about some of the underlying mechanisms, but to this day, our understanding of this disease is unclear. High throughput omics technology and bioinformatics were successful in detecting some of the unknown cancer mechanisms. However, novel groundbreaking research and ideas are necessary. A stay in orbit causes biochemical and molecular biological changes in human cancer cells which are first, and above all, due to microgravity (µg). The µg-environment provides conditions that are not reachable on Earth, which allow researchers to focus on signaling pathways controlling cell growth and metastasis. Cancer research in space already demonstrated how cancer cell-exposure to µg influenced several biological processes being involved in cancer. This novel approach has the potential to fight cancer and to develop future cancer strategies. Space research has been shown to impact biological processes in cancer cells like proliferation, apoptosis, cell survival, adhesion, migration, the cytoskeleton, the extracellular matrix, focal adhesion, and growth factors, among others. This concise review focuses on publications related to genetic, transcriptional, epigenetic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies on tumor cells exposed to real space conditions or to simulated µg using simulation devices. We discuss all omics studies investigating different tumor cell types from the brain and hematological system, sarcomas, as well as thyroid, prostate, breast, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and lung cancers, in order to gain new and innovative ideas for understanding the basic biology of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Graf
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.G.); (H.S.); (M.W.); (F.A.); (M.K.); (P.M.W.)
| | - Herbert Schulz
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.G.); (H.S.); (M.W.); (F.A.); (M.K.); (P.M.W.)
- Research Group “Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen” (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (A.K.); (M.I.)
| | - Markus Wehland
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.G.); (H.S.); (M.W.); (F.A.); (M.K.); (P.M.W.)
- Research Group “Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen” (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (A.K.); (M.I.)
| | - Thomas J. Corydon
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; (T.J.C.); (J.S.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Jayashree Sahana
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; (T.J.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Fatima Abdelfattah
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.G.); (H.S.); (M.W.); (F.A.); (M.K.); (P.M.W.)
| | - Simon L. Wuest
- Space Biology Group, Institute of Medical Engineering, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 6052 Hergiswil, Switzerland (M.E.)
| | - Marcel Egli
- Space Biology Group, Institute of Medical Engineering, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 6052 Hergiswil, Switzerland (M.E.)
- National Center for Biomedical Research in Space, Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation (UZH Space Hub), University Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Krüger
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.G.); (H.S.); (M.W.); (F.A.); (M.K.); (P.M.W.)
- Research Group “Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen” (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (A.K.); (M.I.)
| | - Armin Kraus
- Research Group “Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen” (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (A.K.); (M.I.)
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Magdeburg, Otto von Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Petra M. Wise
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.G.); (H.S.); (M.W.); (F.A.); (M.K.); (P.M.W.)
- Research Group “Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen” (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (A.K.); (M.I.)
- The Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, 4650 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Manfred Infanger
- Research Group “Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen” (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (A.K.); (M.I.)
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Magdeburg, Otto von Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Grimm
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.G.); (H.S.); (M.W.); (F.A.); (M.K.); (P.M.W.)
- Research Group “Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen” (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany; (A.K.); (M.I.)
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; (T.J.C.); (J.S.)
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Miranda S, Vermeesen R, Radstake WE, Parisi A, Ivanova A, Baatout S, Tabury K, Baselet B. Lost in Space? Unmasking the T Cell Reaction to Simulated Space Stressors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16943. [PMID: 38069265 PMCID: PMC10707245 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The space environment will expose astronauts to stressors like ionizing radiation, altered gravity fields and elevated cortisol levels, which pose a health risk. Understanding how the interplay between these stressors changes T cells' response is important to better characterize space-related immune dysfunction. We have exposed stimulated Jurkat cells to simulated space stressors (1 Gy, carbon ions/1 Gy photons, 1 µM hydrocortisone (HC), Mars, moon, and microgravity) in a single or combined manner. Pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-2 was measured in the supernatant of Jurkat cells and at the mRNA level. Results show that alone, HC, Mars gravity and microgravity significantly decrease IL-2 presence in the supernatant. 1 Gy carbon ion irradiation showed a smaller impact on IL-2 levels than photon irradiation. Combining exposure to different simulated space stressors seems to have less immunosuppressive effects. Gene expression was less impacted at the time-point collected. These findings showcase a complex T cell response to different conditions and suggest the importance of elevated cortisol levels in the context of space flight, also highlighting the need to use simulated partial gravity technologies to better understand the immune system's response to the space environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Miranda
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (S.M.)
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Randy Vermeesen
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (S.M.)
| | - Wilhelmina E. Radstake
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (S.M.)
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alessio Parisi
- Radiation Protection Dosimetry and Calibration Expert Group, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Anna Ivanova
- Data Science Institute (DSI), I-BioStat University of Hasselt, 3590 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Sarah Baatout
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (S.M.)
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kevin Tabury
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (S.M.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Bjorn Baselet
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (S.M.)
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Pan C, Zhang Y, Yan J, Zhou Y, Wang S, Liu X, Zhang P, Yang H. Extreme environments and human health: From the immune microenvironments to immune cells. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:116800. [PMID: 37527745 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to extreme environments causes specific acute and chronic physiological responses in humans. The adaptation and the physiological processes under extreme environments predominantly affect multiple functional systems of the organism, in particular, the immune system. Dysfunction of the immune system affected by several extreme environments (including hyperbaric environment, hypoxia, blast shock, microgravity, hypergravity, radiation exposure, and magnetic environment) has been observed from clinical macroscopic symptoms to intracorporal immune microenvironments. Therefore, simulated extreme conditions are engineered for verifying the main influenced characteristics and factors in the immune microenvironments. This review summarizes the responses of immune microenvironments to these extreme environments during in vivo or in vitro exposure, and the approaches of engineering simulated extreme environments in recent decades. The related microenvironment engineering, signaling pathways, molecular mechanisms, clinical therapy, and prevention strategies are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengwei Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China; Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Biological Diagnosis, Treatment and Protection Technology and Equipment, China; Research Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics & Medical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Yuzhi Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China; Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Biological Diagnosis, Treatment and Protection Technology and Equipment, China; Research Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics & Medical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Jinxiao Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China; Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Biological Diagnosis, Treatment and Protection Technology and Equipment, China; Research Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics & Medical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Yidan Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China; Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Biological Diagnosis, Treatment and Protection Technology and Equipment, China; Research Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics & Medical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Sijie Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China; Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Biological Diagnosis, Treatment and Protection Technology and Equipment, China; Research Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics & Medical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Xiru Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China; Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Biological Diagnosis, Treatment and Protection Technology and Equipment, China; Research Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics & Medical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China; Research Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics & Medical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China; School of Food Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, 710021, China.
| | - Hui Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China; Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Biological Diagnosis, Treatment and Protection Technology and Equipment, China; Research Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics & Medical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710072, China.
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Zhang W, Zhang J, Cui Y, Zhao Y, Lei X. Stem Cells and Exosome Applications for Cutaneous Wound Healing: From Ground to Microgravity Environment. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023; 19:2094-2108. [PMID: 37458936 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10571-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The increasing number of astronauts entering microgravity environments for long-term space missions has resulted in serious health problems, including accidental injury and trauma. Skin, as the largest organ and outermost layer of the human body, has the ability to self-renew and withstand a variety of harmful biological and environmental influences. Recent spaceflight experiments and simulated studies have begun to concern the effects of microgravity on the growth of skin cells and the process of cutaneous wound healing. However, the mechanisms of the adverse effects of microgravity on skin cells and potential intervention measures are still limited. Stem cells and their exosomes provide unique opportunities for the cutaneous wound healing as they have been used to improve skin repair. This review discusses the effects of microgravity on wound healing, from cell morphological changes to molecular level alterations. Furthermore, the current research on wound healing treatment utilizing stem cells and their exosomes on the ground is summarized. Finally, this review proposes promising therapeutic strategies using stem cells or exosomes for wound healing in the microgravity environment. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenya Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Talent Highland of Bio-targeting Theranostics, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jinhua Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Talent Highland of Bio-targeting Theranostics, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
- The College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Yan Cui
- Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yongxiang Zhao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Talent Highland of Bio-targeting Theranostics, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
| | - Xiaohua Lei
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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Handwerk L, Schreier HK, Kraft D, Shreder K, Hemmersbach R, Hauslage J, Bonig H, Wiesmüller L, Fournier C, Rall-Scharpf M. Simulating Space Conditions Evokes Different DNA Damage Responses in Immature and Mature Cells of the Human Hematopoietic System. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13761. [PMID: 37762064 PMCID: PMC10531023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of space radiation and microgravity on DNA damage responses has been discussed controversially, largely due to the variety of model systems engaged. Here, we performed side-by-side analyses of human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) cultivated in a 2D clinostat to simulate microgravity before, during and after photon and particle irradiation. We demonstrate that simulated microgravity (SMG) accelerates the early phase of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ)-mediated repair of simple, X-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in PBL, while repair kinetics in HSPC remained unaltered. Repair acceleration was lost with increasing LET of ion exposures, which increases the complexity of DSBs, precluding NHEJ and requiring end resection for successful repair. Such cell-type specific effect of SMG on DSB repair was dependent on the NF-кB pathway pre-activated in PBL but not HSPC. Already under unperturbed growth conditions HSPC and PBL suffered from SMG-induced replication stress associated with accumulation of single-stranded DNA and DSBs, respectively. We conclude that in PBL, SMG-induced DSBs promote repair of radiation-induced damage in an adaptive-like response. HSPC feature SMG-induced single-stranded DNA and FANCD2 foci, i.e., markers of persistent replication stress and senescence that may contribute to a premature decline of the immune system in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Handwerk
- Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | - Daniela Kraft
- Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Kateryna Shreder
- Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ruth Hemmersbach
- Department of Gravitational Biology, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, 51147 Cologne, Germany; (R.H.)
| | - Jens Hauslage
- Department of Gravitational Biology, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, 51147 Cologne, Germany; (R.H.)
| | - Halvard Bonig
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Hospital, and German Red Cross Blood Service, Baden-Wuerttemberg–Hessen, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lisa Wiesmüller
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ulm University, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Claudia Fournier
- Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
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8
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Gallardo-Dodd CJ, Oertlin C, Record J, Galvani RG, Sommerauer C, Kuznetsov NV, Doukoumopoulos E, Ali L, Oliveira MMS, Seitz C, Percipalle M, Nikić T, Sadova AA, Shulgina SM, Shmarov VA, Kutko OV, Vlasova DD, Orlova KD, Rykova MP, Andersson J, Percipalle P, Kutter C, Ponomarev SA, Westerberg LS. Exposure of volunteers to microgravity by dry immersion bed over 21 days results in gene expression changes and adaptation of T cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg1610. [PMID: 37624890 PMCID: PMC10456848 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The next steps of deep space exploration are manned missions to Moon and Mars. For safe space missions for crew members, it is important to understand the impact of space flight on the immune system. We studied the effects of 21 days dry immersion (DI) exposure on the transcriptomes of T cells isolated from blood samples of eight healthy volunteers. Samples were collected 7 days before DI, at day 7, 14, and 21 during DI, and 7 days after DI. RNA sequencing of CD3+ T cells revealed transcriptional alterations across all time points, with most changes occurring 14 days after DI exposure. At day 21, T cells showed evidence of adaptation with a transcriptional profile resembling that of 7 days before DI. At 7 days after DI, T cells again changed their transcriptional profile. These data suggest that T cells adapt by rewiring their transcriptomes in response to simulated weightlessness and that remodeling cues persist when reexposed to normal gravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos J. Gallardo-Dodd
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Oertlin
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julien Record
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rômulo G. Galvani
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Division of Experimental and Translational Research, Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Veiga de Almeida, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory for Thymus Research (LPT), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Christian Sommerauer
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nikolai V. Kuznetsov
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Russian Federation State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Liaqat Ali
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Core Technology Platform, NYUAD, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mariana M. S. Oliveira
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christina Seitz
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mathias Percipalle
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tijana Nikić
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anastasia A. Sadova
- Russian Federation State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sofia M. Shulgina
- Russian Federation State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vjacheslav A. Shmarov
- Russian Federation State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga V. Kutko
- Russian Federation State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Daria D. Vlasova
- Russian Federation State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Kseniya D. Orlova
- Russian Federation State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina P. Rykova
- Russian Federation State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - John Andersson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Piergiorgio Percipalle
- Program in Biology, Division of Science and Mathematics, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, NYUAD, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Claudia Kutter
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sergey A. Ponomarev
- Russian Federation State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Lisa S. Westerberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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9
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Abstract
Gravity is a fundamental interaction that permeates throughout our Universe. On Earth, gravity gives weight to physical objects, and has been a constant presence throughout terrestrial biological evolution. Thus, gravity has shaped all biological functions, some examples include the growth of plants (e.g., gravitropism), the structure and morphology of biological parts in multicellular organisms, to its effects on our physiological function when humans travel into space. Moreover, from an evolutionary perspective, gravity has been a constant force on biology, and life, to our understanding, should have no reason to not experience the effects of gravity. Interestingly, there appear to be specific biological mechanisms that activate in the absence of gravity, with the space environment the only location to study the effects of a lack of gravity on biological systems. Thus, in this perspective piece, biological adaptations from the cellular to the whole organism levels to the presence and absence of gravity will be organized and described, as well as outlining future areas of research for gravitational biological investigations to address. Up to now, we have observed and shown how gravity effects biology at different levels, with a few examples including genetic (e.g., cell cycle, metabolism, signal transduction associated pathways, etc.), biochemically (e.g., cytoskeleton, NADPH oxidase, Yes-associated protein, etc.), and functionally (e.g., astronauts experiencing musculoskeletal and cardiovascular deconditioning, immune dysfunction, etc., when traveling into space). Based from these observations, there appear to be gravity-sensitive and specific pathways across biological organisms, though knowledge gaps of the effects of gravity on biology remain, such as similarities and differences across species, reproduction, development, and evolutionary adaptations, sex-differences, etc. Thus, here an overview of the literature is provided for context of gravitational biology research to-date and consideration for future studies, as we prepare for long-term occupation of low-Earth Orbit and cis-Lunar space, and missions to the Moon and Mars, experiencing the effects of Lunar and Martian gravity on biology, respectively, through our Artemis program.
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10
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Jacob P, Oertlin C, Baselet B, Westerberg LS, Frippiat JP, Baatout S. Next generation of astronauts or ESA astronaut 2.0 concept and spotlight on immunity. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:51. [PMID: 37380641 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00294-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Although we have sent humans into space for more than 50 years, crucial questions regarding immune response in space conditions remain unanswered. There are many complex interactions between the immune system and other physiological systems in the human body. This makes it difficult to study the combined long-term effects of space stressors such as radiation and microgravity. In particular, exposure to microgravity and cosmic radiation may produce changes in the performance of the immune system at the cellular and molecular levels and in the major physiological systems of the body. Consequently, abnormal immune responses induced in the space environment may have serious health consequences, especially in future long-term space missions. In particular, radiation-induced immune effects pose significant health challenges for long-duration space exploration missions with potential risks to reduce the organism's ability to respond to injuries, infections, and vaccines, and predispose astronauts to the onset of chronic diseases (e.g., immunosuppression, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, gut dysbiosis). Other deleterious effects encountered by radiation may include cancer and premature aging, induced by dysregulated redox and metabolic processes, microbiota, immune cell function, endotoxin, and pro-inflammatory signal production1,2. In this review, we summarize and highlight the current understanding of the effects of microgravity and radiation on the immune system and discuss knowledge gaps that future studies should address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Jacob
- Stress Immunity Pathogens Laboratory, UR 7300 SIMPA, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Christian Oertlin
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell biology, Stockholm, SE-17177, Sweden
| | - Bjorn Baselet
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Lisa S Westerberg
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell biology, Stockholm, SE-17177, Sweden
| | - Jean-Pol Frippiat
- Stress Immunity Pathogens Laboratory, UR 7300 SIMPA, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Sarah Baatout
- Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium.
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Gent University, Gent, Belgium.
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11
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Murali A, Sarkar RR. Mechano-immunology in microgravity. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2023; 37:50-64. [PMID: 37087179 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2023.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Life on Earth has evolved to thrive in the Earth's natural gravitational field; however, as space technology advances, we must revisit and investigate the effects of unnatural conditions on human health, such as gravitational change. Studies have shown that microgravity has a negative impact on various systemic parts of humans, with the effects being more severe in the human immune system. Increasing costs, limited experimental time, and sample handling issues hampered our understanding of this field. To address the existing knowledge gap and provide confidence in modelling the phenomena, in this review, we highlight experimental works in mechano-immunology under microgravity and different computational modelling approaches that can be used to address the existing problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirudh Murali
- Chemical Engineering and Process Development, CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Ram Rup Sarkar
- Chemical Engineering and Process Development, CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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12
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Capri M, Conte M, Ciurca E, Pirazzini C, Garagnani P, Santoro A, Longo F, Salvioli S, Lau P, Moeller R, Jordan J, Illig T, Villanueva MM, Gruber M, Bürkle A, Franceschi C, Rittweger J. Long-term human spaceflight and inflammaging: Does it promote aging? Ageing Res Rev 2023; 87:101909. [PMID: 36918115 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Spaceflight and its associated stressors, such as microgravity, radiation exposure, confinement, circadian derailment and disruptive workloads represent an unprecedented type of exposome that is entirely novel from an evolutionary stand point. Within this perspective, we aimed to review the effects of prolonged spaceflight on immune-neuroendocrine systems, brain and brain-gut axis, cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal apparatus, highlighting in particular the similarities with an accelerated aging process. In particular, spaceflight-induced muscle atrophy/sarcopenia and bone loss, vascular and metabolic changes, hyper and hypo reaction of innate and adaptive immune system appear to be modifications shared with the aging process. Most of these modifications are mediated by molecular events that include oxidative and mitochondrial stress, autophagy, DNA damage repair and telomere length alteration, among others, which directly or indirectly converge on the activation of an inflammatory response. According to the inflammaging theory of aging, such an inflammatory response could be a driver of an acceleration of the normal, physiological rate of aging and it is likely that all the systemic modifications in turn lead to an increase of inflammaging in a sort of vicious cycle. The most updated countermeasures to fight these modifications will be also discussed in the light of their possible application not only for astronauts' benefit, but also for older adults on the ground.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Capri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change (Alma Climate), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Conte
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change (Alma Climate), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Erika Ciurca
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Pirazzini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Garagnani
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change (Alma Climate), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Clinical Chemistry Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics, Unit of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Aurelia Santoro
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change (Alma Climate), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica Longo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Salvioli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrick Lau
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Jens Jordan
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany; Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Illig
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maria-Moreno Villanueva
- Human Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Markus Gruber
- Human Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Alexander Bürkle
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Department of Applied Mathematics of the Institute of ITMM, National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, the Russian Federation
| | - Jörn Rittweger
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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13
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Lv H, Yang H, Jiang C, Shi J, Chen RA, Huang Q, Shao D. Microgravity and immune cells. J R Soc Interface 2023; 20:20220869. [PMID: 36789512 PMCID: PMC9929508 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The microgravity environment experienced during spaceflight severely impaired immune system, making astronauts vulnerable to various diseases that seriously threaten the health of astronauts. Immune cells are exceptionally sensitive to changes in gravity and the microgravity environment can affect multiple aspects of immune cells through different mechanisms. Previous reports have mainly summarized the role of microgravity in the classification of innate and adaptive immune cells, lacking an overall grasp of the laws that microgravity effects on immune cells at different stages of their entire developmental process, such as differentiation, activation, metabolism, as well as function, which are discussed and concluded in this review. The possible molecular mechanisms are also analysed to provide a clear understanding of the specific role of microgravity in the whole development process of immune cells. Furthermore, the existing methods by which to reverse the damage of immune cells caused by microgravity, such as the use of polysaccharides, flavonoids, other natural immune cell activators etc. to target cell proliferation, apoptosis and impaired function are summarized. This review will provide not only new directions and ideas for the study of immune cell function in the microgravity environment, but also an important theoretical basis for the development of immunosuppression prevention and treatment drugs for spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongfang Lv
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Yang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunmei Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Junling Shi
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Ren-an Chen
- Hematology Department, Shaanxi Provincial Tumor Hospital, 309 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingsheng Huang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongyan Shao
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, People's Republic of China
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14
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An R. MRTF may be the missing link in a multiscale mechanobiology approach toward macrophage dysfunction in space. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:997365. [PMID: 36172272 PMCID: PMC9510870 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.997365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages exhibit impaired phagocytosis, adhesion, migration, and cytokine production in space, hindering their ability to elicit immune responses. Considering that the combined effect of spaceflight microgravity and radiation is multiscale and multifactorial in nature, it is expected that contradictory findings are common in the field. This theory paper reanalyzes research on the macrophage spaceflight response across multiple timescales from seconds to weeks, and spatial scales from the molecular, intracellular, extracellular, to the physiological. Key findings include time-dependence of both pro-inflammatory activation and integrin expression. Here, we introduce the time-dependent, intracellular localization of MRTF-A as a hypothetical confounder of macrophage activation. We discuss the mechanosensitive MRTF-A/SRF pathway dependence on the actin cytoskeleton/nucleoskeleton, microtubules, membrane mechanoreceptors, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and intracellular/extracellular crosstalk. By adopting a multiscale perspective, this paper provides the first mechanistic answer for a three-decade-old question regarding impaired cytokine secretion in microgravity—and strengthens the connection between the recent advances in mechanobiology, microgravity, and the spaceflight immune response. Finally, we hypothesize MRTF involvement and complications in treating spaceflight-induced cardiovascular, skeletal, and immune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocky An
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Rocky An,
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15
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Vahlensieck C, Thiel CS, Pöschl D, Bradley T, Krammer S, Lauber B, Polzer J, Ullrich O. Post-Transcriptional Dynamics is Involved in Rapid Adaptation to Hypergravity in Jurkat T Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:933984. [PMID: 35859900 PMCID: PMC9289288 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.933984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptome of human immune cells rapidly reacts to altered gravity in a highly dynamic way. We could show in previous experiments that transcriptional patterns show profound adaption after seconds to minutes of altered gravity. To gain further insight into these transcriptional alteration and adaption dynamics, we conducted a highly standardized RNA-Seq experiment with human Jurkat T cells exposed to 9xg hypergravity for 3 and 15 min, respectively. We investigated the frequency with which individual exons were used during transcription and discovered that differential exon usage broadly appeared after 3 min and became less pronounced after 15 min. Additionally, we observed a shift in the transcript pool from coding towards non-coding transcripts. Thus, adaption of gravity-sensitive differentially expressed genes followed a dynamic transcriptional rebound effect. The general dynamics were compatible with previous studies on the transcriptional effects of short hypergravity on human immune cells and suggest that initial up-regulatory changes mostly result from increased elongation rates. The shift correlated with a general downregulation of the affected genes. All chromosome bands carried homogenous numbers of gravity-sensitive genes but showed a specific tendency towards up- or downregulation. Altered gravity affected transcriptional regulation throughout the entire genome, whereby the direction of differential expression was strongly dependent on the structural location in the genome. A correlation analysis with potential mediators of the early transcriptional response identified a link between initially upregulated genes with certain transcription factors. Based on these findings, we have been able to further develop our model of the transcriptional response to altered gravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Vahlensieck
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation (UZH Space Hub), Air Force Center, University of Zurich, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Cora S. Thiel
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation (UZH Space Hub), Air Force Center, University of Zurich, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL), Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Merritt Island, FL, United States
- Space Biotechnology, Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Cora S. Thiel, ; Oliver Ullrich,
| | - Daniel Pöschl
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Timothy Bradley
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sonja Krammer
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation (UZH Space Hub), Air Force Center, University of Zurich, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Beatrice Lauber
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Polzer
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Ullrich
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation (UZH Space Hub), Air Force Center, University of Zurich, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL), Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Merritt Island, FL, United States
- Space Biotechnology, Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Space Medicine, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule (EAH) Jena, Department of Industrial Engineering, Jena, Germany
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Cora S. Thiel, ; Oliver Ullrich,
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16
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Lu SY, Guo S, Chai SB, Yang JQ, Yue Y, Li H, Yan HF, Zhang T, Sun PM, Sun HW, Zhou JL, Yang JW, Li ZP, Cui Y. Proteomic analysis of the effects of simulated microgravity in human gastric mucosal cells. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2022; 32:26-37. [PMID: 35065758 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microgravity is an ecological factor that affects the environment of the body. In this study, quantitative isobaric labeling (tandem mass tag) method was used to study the changes in human gastric mucosal cells under simulated microgravity for the first time. Comparative proteomic analysis identified 394 (202 upregulated and 192 downregulated) and 542 (286 upregulated and 256 downregulated) proteins differentially regulated by simulated microgravity after 3 and 7 days, respectively. Then the identified proteins were subjected to Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses for further exploration. The results of the analysis showed that the ribosomes of gastric mucosal cells were significantly impacted after exposure to simulated microgravity for 3 days, and the cells appeared to be in a state of stress and inflammation. Exposure to simulated microgravity for 7 days significantly affected the mitochondria of the cells, oxidative stress became more evident, while inflammation and weakened connections were observed in the cells. The results of this study highlighted the temporal response trend of gastric mucosal cells to the stressor of microgravity at the two time points of 3 and 7 days. These findings will provide insights into the development of methods to protect the gastric mucosa during space flight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Yu Lu
- Department of General Surgery, The 306th Hospital of PLA-Peking University Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100101, China; Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Song Guo
- Department of General Surgery, The 306th Hospital of PLA-Peking University Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100101, China; Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shao-Bin Chai
- Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jia-Qi Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The 306th Hospital of PLA-Peking University Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100101, China; Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yuan Yue
- Department of General Surgery, The 306th Hospital of PLA-Peking University Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100101, China; Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hong-Feng Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Pei-Ming Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hong-Wei Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jin-Lian Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jian-Wu Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zheng-Peng Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
| | - Yan Cui
- Department of General Surgery, The 306th Hospital of PLA-Peking University Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100101, China; Department of General Surgery, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing 100101, China.
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17
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Wu XT, Yang X, Tian R, Li YH, Wang CY, Fan YB, Sun LW. Cells respond to space microgravity through cytoskeleton reorganization. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22114. [PMID: 35076958 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101140r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Decades of spaceflight studies have provided abundant evidence that individual cells in vitro are capable of sensing space microgravity and responding with cellular changes both structurally and functionally. However, how microgravity is perceived, transmitted, and converted to biochemical signals by single cells remains unrevealed. Here in this review, over 40 cellular biology studies of real space fights were summarized. Studies on cells of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, and immune system were covered. Among all the reported cellular changes in response to space microgravity, cytoskeleton (CSK) reorganization emerges as a key indicator. Based on the evidence of CSK reorganization from space flight research, a possible mechanism from the standpoint of "cellular mechanical equilibrium" is proposed for the explanation of cellular response to space microgravity. Cytoskeletal equilibrium is broken by the gravitational change from ground to space and is followed by cellular morphological changes, cell mechanical properties changes, extracellular matrix reorganization, as well as signaling pathway activation/inactivation, all of which ultimately lead to the cell functional changes in space microgravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Tong Wu
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (Beihang University), Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (Beihang University), Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Ran Tian
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (Beihang University), Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying-Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Chun-Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Bo Fan
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (Beihang University), Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.,School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Lian-Wen Sun
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (Beihang University), Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
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18
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Dhar S, Kaeley DK, Kanan MJ, Yildirim-Ayan E. Mechano-Immunomodulation in Space: Mechanisms Involving Microgravity-Induced Changes in T Cells. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11101043. [PMID: 34685414 PMCID: PMC8537592 DOI: 10.3390/life11101043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Of the most prevalent issues surrounding long-term spaceflight, the sustainability of human life and the maintenance of homeostasis in an extreme environment are of utmost concern. It has been observed that the human immune system is dysregulated in space as a result of gravitational unloading at the cellular level, leading to potential complications in astronaut health. A plethora of studies demonstrate intracellular changes that occur due to microgravity; however, these ultimately fall short of identifying the underlying mechanisms and dysfunctions that cause such changes. This comprehensive review covers the changes in human adaptive immunity due to microgravity. Specifically, there is a focus on uncovering the gravisensitive steps in T cell signaling pathways. Changes in gravitational force may lead to interrupted immune signaling cascades at specific junctions, particularly membrane and surface receptor-proximal molecules. Holistically studying the interplay of signaling with morphological changes in cytoskeleton and other cell components may yield answers to what in the T cell specifically experiences the consequences of microgravity. Fully understanding the nature of this problem is essential in order to develop proper countermeasures before long-term space flight is conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarit Dhar
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA; (S.D.); (D.K.K.); (M.J.K.)
| | - Dilpreet Kaur Kaeley
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA; (S.D.); (D.K.K.); (M.J.K.)
| | - Mohamad Jalal Kanan
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA; (S.D.); (D.K.K.); (M.J.K.)
| | - Eda Yildirim-Ayan
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA; (S.D.); (D.K.K.); (M.J.K.)
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-419-530-8257; Fax: +1-419-530-8030
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19
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Beheshti A, McDonald JT, Hada M, Takahashi A, Mason CE, Mognato M. Genomic Changes Driven by Radiation-Induced DNA Damage and Microgravity in Human Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910507. [PMID: 34638848 PMCID: PMC8508777 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The space environment consists of a complex mixture of different types of ionizing radiation and altered gravity that represents a threat to humans during space missions. In particular, individual radiation sensitivity is strictly related to the risk of space radiation carcinogenesis. Therefore, in view of future missions to the Moon and Mars, there is an urgent need to estimate as accurately as possible the individual risk from space exposure to improve the safety of space exploration. In this review, we survey the combined effects from the two main physical components of the space environment, ionizing radiation and microgravity, to alter the genetics and epigenetics of human cells, considering both real and simulated space conditions. Data collected from studies on human cells are discussed for their potential use to estimate individual radiation carcinogenesis risk from space exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afshin Beheshti
- KBR, NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Division, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Correspondence: or (A.B.); (M.M.)
| | - J. Tyson McDonald
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, USA;
| | - Megumi Hada
- Radiation Institute for Science & Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA;
| | - Akihisa Takahashi
- Gunma University Heavy Ion Medical Center, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi 371-8511, Gunma, Japan;
| | - Christopher E. Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA;
- The World Quant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Maddalena Mognato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: or (A.B.); (M.M.)
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20
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Gravitational Force-Induced 3D Chromosomal Conformational Changes Are Associated with Rapid Transcriptional Response in Human T Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179426. [PMID: 34502336 PMCID: PMC8430767 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying gravity perception in mammalian cells are unknown. We have recently discovered that the transcriptome of cells in the immune system, which is the most affected system during a spaceflight, responds rapidly and broadly to altered gravity. To pinpoint potential underlying mechanisms, we compared gene expression and three-dimensional (3D) chromosomal conformational changes in human Jurkat T cells during the short-term gravitational changes in parabolic flight and suborbital ballistic rocket flight experiments. We found that differential gene expression in gravity-responsive chromosomal regions, but not differentially regulated single genes, are highly conserved between different real altered gravity comparisons. These coupled gene expression effects in chromosomal regions could be explained by underlying chromatin structures. Based on a high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) analysis in altered gravity, we found that small chromosomes (chr16–22, with the exception of chr18) showed increased intra- and interchromosomal interactions in altered gravity, whereby large chromosomes showed decreased interactions. Finally, we detected a nonrandom overlap between Hi-C-identified chromosomal interacting regions and gravity-responsive chromosomal regions (GRCRs). We therefore demonstrate the first evidence that gravitational force-induced 3D chromosomal conformational changes are associated with rapid transcriptional response in human T cells. We propose a general model of cellular sensitivity to gravitational forces, where gravitational forces acting on the cellular membrane are rapidly and mechanically transduced through the cytoskeleton into the nucleus, moving chromosome territories to new conformation states and their genes into more expressive or repressive environments, finally resulting in region-specific differential gene expression.
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21
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Kumar A, Tahimic CGT, Almeida EAC, Globus RK. Spaceflight Modulates the Expression of Key Oxidative Stress and Cell Cycle Related Genes in Heart. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9088. [PMID: 34445793 PMCID: PMC8396460 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight causes cardiovascular changes due to microgravity-induced redistribution of body fluids and musculoskeletal unloading. Cardiac deconditioning and atrophy on Earth are associated with altered Trp53 and oxidative stress-related pathways, but the effects of spaceflight on cardiac changes at the molecular level are less understood. We tested the hypothesis that spaceflight alters the expression of key genes related to stress response pathways, which may contribute to cardiovascular deconditioning during extended spaceflight. Mice were exposed to spaceflight for 15 days or maintained on Earth (ground control). Ventricle tissue was harvested starting ~3 h post-landing. We measured expression of select genes implicated in oxidative stress pathways and Trp53 signaling by quantitative PCR. Cardiac expression levels of 37 of 168 genes tested were altered after spaceflight. Spaceflight downregulated transcription factor, Nfe2l2 (Nrf2), upregulated Nox1 and downregulated Ptgs2, suggesting a persistent increase in oxidative stress-related target genes. Spaceflight also substantially upregulated Cdkn1a (p21) and cell cycle/apoptosis-related gene Myc, and downregulated the inflammatory response gene Tnf. There were no changes in apoptosis-related genes such as Trp53. Spaceflight altered the expression of genes regulating redox balance, cell cycle and senescence in cardiac tissue of mice. Thus, spaceflight may contribute to cardiac dysfunction due to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhilesh Kumar
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 288-2, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; (A.K.); (E.A.C.A.)
| | | | - Eduardo A. C. Almeida
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 288-2, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; (A.K.); (E.A.C.A.)
| | - Ruth K. Globus
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 288-2, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; (A.K.); (E.A.C.A.)
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22
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Rapid Transient Transcriptional Adaptation to Hypergravity in Jurkat T Cells Revealed by Comparative Analysis of Microarray and RNA-Seq Data. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168451. [PMID: 34445156 PMCID: PMC8395121 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular responses to micro- and hypergravity are rapid and complex and appear within the first few seconds of exposure. Transcriptomic analyses are a valuable tool to analyze these genome-wide cellular alterations. For a better understanding of the cellular dynamics upon altered gravity exposure, it is important to compare different time points. However, since most of the experiments are designed as endpoint measurements, the combination of cross-experiment meta-studies is inevitable. Microarray and RNA-Seq analyses are two of the main methods to study transcriptomics. In the field of altered gravity research, both methods are frequently used. However, the generation of these data sets is difficult and time-consuming and therefore the number of available data sets in this research field is limited. In this study, we investigated the comparability of microarray and RNA-Seq data and applied the results to a comparison of the transcriptomics dynamics between the hypergravity conditions during two real flight platforms and a centrifuge experiment to identify temporal adaptation processes. We performed a comparative study on an Affymetrix HTA2.0 microarray and a paired-end RNA-Seq data set originating from the same Jurkat T cell RNA samples from a short-term hypergravity experiment. The overall agreeability was high, with better sensitivity of the RNA-Seq analysis. The microarray data set showed weaknesses on the level of single upregulated genes, likely due to its normalization approach. On an aggregated level of biotypes, chromosomal distribution, and gene sets, both technologies performed equally well. The microarray showed better performance on the detection of altered gravity-related splicing events. We found that all initially altered transcripts fully adapted after 15 min to hypergravity and concluded that the altered gene expression response to hypergravity is transient and fully reversible. Based on the combined multiple-platform meta-analysis, we could demonstrate rapid transcriptional adaptation to hypergravity, the differential expression of the ATPase subunits ATP6V1A and ATP6V1D, and the cluster of differentiation (CD) molecules CD1E, CD2AP, CD46, CD47, CD53, CD69, CD96, CD164, and CD226 in hypergravity. We could experimentally demonstrate that it is possible to develop methodological evidence for the meta-analysis of individual data.
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23
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ElGindi M, Sapudom J, Ibrahim IH, Al-Sayegh M, Chen W, Garcia-Sabaté A, Teo JCM. May the Force Be with You (Or Not): The Immune System under Microgravity. Cells 2021; 10:1941. [PMID: 34440709 PMCID: PMC8391211 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
All terrestrial organisms have evolved and adapted to thrive under Earth's gravitational force. Due to the increase of crewed space flights in recent years, it is vital to understand how the lack of gravitational forces affects organisms. It is known that astronauts who have been exposed to microgravity suffer from an array of pathological conditions including an impaired immune system, which is one of the most negatively affected by microgravity. However, at the cellular level a gap in knowledge exists, limiting our ability to understand immune impairment in space. This review highlights the most significant work done over the past 10 years detailing the effects of microgravity on cellular aspects of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei ElGindi
- Laboratory for Immuno Bioengineering Research and Applications, Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates; (M.E.); (J.S.); (I.H.I.)
| | - Jiranuwat Sapudom
- Laboratory for Immuno Bioengineering Research and Applications, Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates; (M.E.); (J.S.); (I.H.I.)
| | - Ibrahim Hamed Ibrahim
- Laboratory for Immuno Bioengineering Research and Applications, Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates; (M.E.); (J.S.); (I.H.I.)
| | - Mohamed Al-Sayegh
- Biology Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Weiqiang Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA;
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
| | - Anna Garcia-Sabaté
- Laboratory for Immuno Bioengineering Research and Applications, Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates; (M.E.); (J.S.); (I.H.I.)
| | - Jeremy C. M. Teo
- Laboratory for Immuno Bioengineering Research and Applications, Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates; (M.E.); (J.S.); (I.H.I.)
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA;
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
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24
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Sahana J, Corydon TJ, Wehland M, Krüger M, Kopp S, Melnik D, Kahlert S, Relja B, Infanger M, Grimm D. Alterations of Growth and Focal Adhesion Molecules in Human Breast Cancer Cells Exposed to the Random Positioning Machine. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:672098. [PMID: 34277614 PMCID: PMC8278480 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.672098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated changes in focal adhesions (FAs) in two types of breast cancer cell (BCC) lines (differentiated MCF-7 and the triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cell line) exposed to simulated microgravity (s-μg) created by a random positioning machine (RPM) for 24 h. After exposure, the BCC changed their growth behavior and exhibited two phenotypes in RPM samples: one portion of the cells grew as a normal two-dimensional monolayer [adherent (AD) BCC], while the other portion formed three-dimensional (3D) multicellular spheroids (MCS). After 1 h and 30 min (MDA-MB-231) and 1 h 40 min (MCF-7), the MCS adhered completely to the slide flask bottom. After 2 h, MDA-MB-231 MCS cells started to migrate, and after 6 h, a large number of the cells had left the MCS and continued to grow in a scattered pattern, whereas MCF-7 cells were growing as a confluent monolayer after 6 h and 24 h. We investigated the genes associated with the cytoskeleton, the extracellular matrix and FAs. ACTB, TUBB, FN1, FAK1, and PXN gene expression patterns were not significantly changed in MDA-MB-231 cells, but we observed a down-regulation of LAMA3, ITGB1 mRNAs in AD cells and of ITGB1, TLN1 and VCL mRNAs in MDA-MB-231 MCS. RPM-exposed MCF-7 cells revealed a down-regulation in the gene expression of FAK1, PXN, TLN1, VCL and CDH1 in AD cells and PXN, TLN and CDH1 in MCS. An interaction analysis of the examined genes involved in 3D growth and adhesion indicated a central role of fibronectin, vinculin, and E-cadherin. Live cell imaging of eGFP-vinculin in MCF-7 cells confirmed these findings. β-catenin-transfected MCF-7 cells revealed a nuclear expression in 1g and RPM-AD cells. The target genes BCL9, MYC and JUN of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were differentially expressed in RPM-exposed MCF-7 cells. These findings suggest that vinculin and β-catenin are key mediators of BCC to form MCS during 24 h of RPM-exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas J Corydon
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Markus Wehland
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Research Group "Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen" (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Krüger
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Research Group "Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen" (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sascha Kopp
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Research Group "Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen" (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Melnik
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Kahlert
- Institute of Anatomy, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Borna Relja
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Experimental Radiology, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Infanger
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Research Group "Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen" (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Grimm
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Research Group "Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen" (MARS), Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
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25
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Spatz JM, Fulford MH, Tsai A, Gaudilliere D, Hedou J, Ganio E, Angst M, Aghaeepour N, Gaudilliere B. Human immune system adaptations to simulated microgravity revealed by single-cell mass cytometry. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11872. [PMID: 34099760 PMCID: PMC8184772 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90458-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to microgravity (µG) during space flights produces a state of immunosuppression, leading to increased viral shedding, which could interfere with long term missions. However, the cellular mechanisms that underlie the immunosuppressive effects of µG are ill-defined. A deep understanding of human immune adaptations to µG is a necessary first step to design data-driven interventions aimed at preserving astronauts' immune defense during short- and long-term spaceflights. We employed a high-dimensional mass cytometry approach to characterize over 250 cell-specific functional responses in 18 innate and adaptive immune cell subsets exposed to 1G or simulated (s)µG using the Rotating Wall Vessel. A statistically stringent elastic net method produced a multivariate model that accurately stratified immune responses observed in 1G and sµG (p value 2E-4, cross-validation). Aspects of our analysis resonated with prior knowledge of human immune adaptations to µG, including the dampening of Natural Killer, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. Remarkably, we found that sµG enhanced STAT5 signaling responses of immunosuppressive Tregs. Our results suggest µG exerts a dual effect on the human immune system, simultaneously dampening cytotoxic responses while enhancing Treg function. Our study provides a single-cell readout of sµG-induced immune dysfunctions and an analytical framework for future studies of human immune adaptations to human long-term spaceflights.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Spatz
- Department of Medicine, Metabolism Division, San Francisco Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - M Hughes Fulford
- Department of Medicine, Metabolism Division, San Francisco Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - A Tsai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Dr. Rm S238, Grant Bldg, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - D Gaudilliere
- Department of Surgery, Plastic Surgery Division, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - J Hedou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Dr. Rm S238, Grant Bldg, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - E Ganio
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Dr. Rm S238, Grant Bldg, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - M Angst
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Dr. Rm S238, Grant Bldg, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - N Aghaeepour
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Dr. Rm S238, Grant Bldg, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Brice Gaudilliere
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Dr. Rm S238, Grant Bldg, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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26
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Gravitational Influence on Human Living Systems and the Evolution of Species on Earth. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26092784. [PMID: 34066886 PMCID: PMC8125950 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gravity constituted the only constant environmental parameter, during the evolutionary period of living matter on Earth. However, whether gravity has affected the evolution of species, and its impact is still ongoing. The topic has not been investigated in depth, as this would require frequent and long-term experimentations in space or an environment of altered gravity. In addition, each organism should be studied throughout numerous generations to determine the profound biological changes in evolution. Here, we review the significant abnormalities presented in the cardiovascular, immune, vestibular and musculoskeletal systems, due to altered gravity conditions. We also review the impact that gravity played in the anatomy of snakes and amphibians, during their evolution. Overall, it appears that gravity does not only curve the space–time continuum but the biological continuum, as well.
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27
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Gravitational Experimental Platform for Animal Models, a New Platform at ESA's Terrestrial Facilities to Study the Effects of Micro- and Hypergravity on Aquatic and Rodent Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22062961. [PMID: 33803957 PMCID: PMC7998548 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Using rotors to expose animals to different levels of hypergravity is an efficient means of understanding how altered gravity affects physiological functions, interactions between physiological systems and animal development. Furthermore, rotors can be used to prepare space experiments, e.g., conducting hypergravity experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of a study before its implementation and to complement inflight experiments by comparing the effects of micro- and hypergravity. In this paper, we present a new platform called the Gravitational Experimental Platform for Animal Models (GEPAM), which has been part of European Space Agency (ESA)’s portfolio of ground-based facilities since 2020, to study the effects of altered gravity on aquatic animal models (amphibian embryos/tadpoles) and mice. This platform comprises rotors for hypergravity exposure (three aquatic rotors and one rodent rotor) and models to simulate microgravity (cages for mouse hindlimb unloading and a random positioning machine (RPM)). Four species of amphibians can be used at present. All murine strains can be used and are maintained in a specific pathogen-free area. This platform is surrounded by numerous facilities for sample preparation and analysis using state-of-the-art techniques. Finally, we illustrate how GEPAM can contribute to the understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms and the identification of countermeasures.
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The Emerging Role of Macrophages in Immune System Dysfunction under Real and Simulated Microgravity Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052333. [PMID: 33652750 PMCID: PMC7956436 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In the process of exploring space, the astronaut's body undergoes a series of physiological changes. At the level of cellular behavior, microgravity causes significant alterations, including bone loss, muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular deconditioning. At the level of gene expression, microgravity changes the expression of cytokines in many physiological processes, such as cell immunity, proliferation, and differentiation. At the level of signaling pathways, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway participates in microgravity-induced immune malfunction. However, the mechanisms of these changes have not been fully elucidated. Recent studies suggest that the malfunction of macrophages is an important breakthrough for immune disorders in microgravity. As the first line of immune defense, macrophages play an essential role in maintaining homeostasis. They activate specific immune responses and participate in large numbers of physiological activities by presenting antigen and secreting cytokines. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent advances on the dysfunction of macrophages arisen from microgravity and to discuss the mechanisms of these abnormal responses. Hopefully, our work will contribute not only to the future exploration on the immune system in space, but also to the development of preventive and therapeutic drugs against the physiological consequences of spaceflight.
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Green MJ, Aylott JW, Williams P, Ghaemmaghami AM, Williams PM. Immunity in Space: Prokaryote Adaptations and Immune Response in Microgravity. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11020112. [PMID: 33540536 PMCID: PMC7912908 DOI: 10.3390/life11020112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune dysfunction has long been reported by medical professionals regarding astronauts suffering from opportunistic infections both during their time in space and a short period afterwards once back on Earth. Various species of prokaryotes onboard these space missions or cultured in a microgravity analogue exhibit increased virulence, enhanced formation of biofilms, and in some cases develop specific resistance for specific antibiotics. This poses a substantial health hazard to the astronauts confined in constant proximity to any present bacterial pathogens on long space missions with a finite number of resources including antibiotics. Furthermore, some bacteria cultured in microgravity develop phenotypes not seen in Earth gravity conditions, providing novel insights into bacterial evolution and avenues for research. Immune dysfunction caused by exposure to microgravity may increase the chance of bacterial infection. Immune cell stimulation, toll-like receptors and pathogen-associated molecular patterns can all be altered in microgravity and affect immunological crosstalk and response. Production of interleukins and other cytokines can also be altered leading to immune dysfunction when responding to bacterial infection. Stem cell differentiation and immune cell activation and proliferation can also be impaired and altered by the microgravity environment once more adding to immune dysfunction in microgravity. This review elaborates on and contextualises these findings relating to how bacteria can adapt to microgravity and how the immune system subsequently responds to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macauley J. Green
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (M.J.G.); (J.W.A.)
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (P.W.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Jonathan W. Aylott
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (M.J.G.); (J.W.A.)
| | - Paul Williams
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (P.W.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Amir M. Ghaemmaghami
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (P.W.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Philip M. Williams
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (M.J.G.); (J.W.A.)
- Correspondence:
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A Simulated Microgravity Environment Causes a Sustained Defect in Epithelial Barrier Function. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17531. [PMID: 31772208 PMCID: PMC6879622 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53862-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) junctions constitute a robust barrier to invasion by viruses, bacteria and exposure to ingested agents. Previous studies showed that microgravity compromises the human immune system and increases enteropathogen virulence. However, the effects of microgravity on epithelial barrier function are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to identify if simulated microgravity alters intestinal epithelial barrier function (permeability), and susceptibility to barrier-disrupting agents. IECs (HT-29.cl19a) were cultured on microcarrier beads in simulated microgravity using a rotating wall vessel (RWV) for 18 days prior to seeding on semipermeable supports to measure ion flux (transepithelial electrical resistance (TER)) and FITC-dextran (FD4) permeability over 14 days. RWV cells showed delayed apical junction localization of the tight junction proteins, occludin and ZO-1. The alcohol metabolite, acetaldehyde, significantly decreased TER and reduced junctional ZO-1 localization, while increasing FD4 permeability in RWV cells compared with static, motion and flask control cells. In conclusion, simulated microgravity induced an underlying and sustained susceptibility to epithelial barrier disruption upon removal from the microgravity environment. This has implications for gastrointestinal homeostasis of astronauts in space, as well as their capability to withstand the effects of agents that compromise intestinal epithelial barrier function following return to Earth.
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Nassef MZ, Kopp S, Melnik D, Corydon TJ, Sahana J, Krüger M, Wehland M, Bauer TJ, Liemersdorf C, Hemmersbach R, Infanger M, Grimm D. Short-Term Microgravity Influences Cell Adhesion in Human Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E5730. [PMID: 31731625 PMCID: PMC6887954 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
With the commercialization of spaceflight and the exploration of space, it is important to understand the changes occurring in human cells exposed to real microgravity (r-µg) conditions. We examined the influence of r-µg, simulated microgravity (s-µg, incubator random positioning machine (iRPM)), hypergravity (hyper-g), and vibration (VIB) on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells (MDA-MB-231 cell line) with the aim to study early changes in the gene expression of factors associated with cell adhesion, apoptosis, nuclear factor "kappa-light-chain-enhancer" of activated B-cells (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. We had the opportunity to attend a parabolic flight (PF) mission and to study changes in RNA transcription in the MDA-MB cells exposed to PF maneuvers (29th Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) PF campaign). PF maneuvers induced an early up-regulation of ICAM1, CD44 and ERK1 mRNAs after the first parabola (P1) and a delayed upregulation of NFKB1, NFKBIA, NFKBIB, and FAK1 after the last parabola (P31). ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and CD44 protein levels were elevated, whereas the NF-κB subunit p-65 and annexin-A2 protein levels were reduced after the 31st parabola (P31). The PRKCA, RAF1, BAX mRNA were not changed and cleaved caspase-3 was not detectable in MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to PF maneuvers. Hyper-g-exposure of the cells elevated the expression of CD44 and NFKBIA mRNAs, iRPM-exposure downregulated ANXA2 and BAX, whereas VIB did not affect the TNBC cells. The early changes in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and the rapid decrease in the NF-κB subunit p-65 might be considered as fast-reacting, gravity-regulated and cell-protective mechanisms of TNBC cells exposed to altered gravity conditions. This data suggest a key role for the detected gravity-signaling elements in three-dimensional growth and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Zakaria Nassef
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.Z.N.); (D.M.); (M.K.); (M.W.); (T.J.B.); (M.I.)
| | - Sascha Kopp
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.Z.N.); (D.M.); (M.K.); (M.W.); (T.J.B.); (M.I.)
| | - Daniela Melnik
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.Z.N.); (D.M.); (M.K.); (M.W.); (T.J.B.); (M.I.)
| | - Thomas J. Corydon
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; (T.J.C.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Jayashree Sahana
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; (T.J.C.)
| | - Marcus Krüger
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.Z.N.); (D.M.); (M.K.); (M.W.); (T.J.B.); (M.I.)
| | - Markus Wehland
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.Z.N.); (D.M.); (M.K.); (M.W.); (T.J.B.); (M.I.)
| | - Thomas J. Bauer
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.Z.N.); (D.M.); (M.K.); (M.W.); (T.J.B.); (M.I.)
| | - Christian Liemersdorf
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Department of Gravitational Biology, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany; (C.L.); (R.H.)
| | - Ruth Hemmersbach
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Department of Gravitational Biology, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany; (C.L.); (R.H.)
| | - Manfred Infanger
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.Z.N.); (D.M.); (M.K.); (M.W.); (T.J.B.); (M.I.)
| | - Daniela Grimm
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.Z.N.); (D.M.); (M.K.); (M.W.); (T.J.B.); (M.I.)
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; (T.J.C.)
- Gravitational Biology and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Mechanical Engineering, Otto von Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
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Buchheim JI, Matzel S, Rykova M, Vassilieva G, Ponomarev S, Nichiporuk I, Hörl M, Moser D, Biere K, Feuerecker M, Schelling G, Thieme D, Kaufmann I, Thiel M, Choukèr A. Stress Related Shift Toward Inflammaging in Cosmonauts After Long-Duration Space Flight. Front Physiol 2019; 10:85. [PMID: 30873038 PMCID: PMC6401618 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Space flight exerts a specific conglomerate of stressors on humans that can modulate the immune system. The mechanism remains to be elucidated and the consequences for cosmonauts in the long term are unclear. Most of the current research stems from short-term spaceflights as well as pre- and post-flight analyses due to operational limitations. Immune function of 12 cosmonauts participating in a long-duration (>140 days) spaceflight mission was monitored pre-, post-, and on two time-points in-flight. While the classical markers for stress such as cortisol in saliva where not significantly altered, blood concentrations of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) were found to be highly increased in-flight indicating a biological stress response. Moreover, subjects showed a significant rise in white blood cell counts. Neutrophils, monocytes and B cells increased by 50% whereas NK cells dropped by nearly 60% shortly after landing. Analysis of blood smears showed that lymphocyte percentages, though unchanged pre- and post-flight were elevated in-flight. Functional tests on the ground revealed stable cellular glutathione levels, unaltered baseline and stimulated ROS release in neutrophils but an increased shedding of L-selectin post-flight. In vitro stimulation of whole blood samples with fungal antigen showed a highly amplified TNF and IL-1β response. Furthermore, a significant reduction in CD4+CD25+CD27low regulatory T cells was observed post-flight but returned to normal levels after one month. Concomitantly, high in-flight levels of regulatory cytokines TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-1ra dropped rapidly after return to Earth. Finally, we observed a shift in the CD8+ T cell repertoire toward CD8+ memory cells that lasted even one month after return to Earth. Conclusion: Long-duration spaceflight triggered a sustained stress dependent release of endocannabinoids combined with an aberrant immune activation mimicking features of people at risk for inflammation related diseases. These effects persisted in part 30 days after return to Earth. The currently available repertoire of in-flight testing as well as the post-flight observation periods need to be expanded to tackle the underlying mechanism for and consequences of these immune changes in order to develop corresponding mitigation strategies based on a personalized approach for future interplanetary space explorations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith-Irina Buchheim
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Matzel
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Marina Rykova
- Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Galina Vassilieva
- Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Ponomarev
- Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor Nichiporuk
- Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marion Hörl
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Dominique Moser
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Biere
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Feuerecker
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Gustav Schelling
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Detlef Thieme
- Institute of Doping Analysis and Sports Biochemistry, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ines Kaufmann
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich, LMU, Munich, Germany.,Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital Munich-Neuperlach, Munich, Germany
| | - Manfred Thiel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Alexander Choukèr
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich, LMU, Munich, Germany
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Expression of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α (HIF-1α) and Genes of Related Pathways in Altered Gravity. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20020436. [PMID: 30669540 PMCID: PMC6358763 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune system deterioration in space represents a major risk, which has to be mitigated for exploration-class missions into the solar system. Altered gravitational forces have been shown to regulate adaptation processes in cells of the immune system, which are important for appropriate risk management, monitoring and development of countermeasures. T lymphocytes and cells of the monocyte-macrophage system are highly migratory cell types that frequently encounter a wide range of oxygen tensions in human tissues and in hypoxic areas, even under homeostatic conditions. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and 2 (HIF's) might have an important role in activation of T cells and cells of the monocyte-macrophages system. Thus, we investigated the regulation of HIF-dependent and, therefore, hypoxia-signaling systems in both cell types in altered gravity and performed transcript and protein analysis from parabolic flight and suborbital ballistic rocket experiments. We found that HIF-1α and HIF-1-dependent transcripts were differently regulated in altered gravity, whereas HIF-1α-dependent gene expression adapted after 5 min microgravity. Inter-platform comparisons identified PDK1 as highly responsive to gravitational changes in human U937 myelomonocytic cells and in Jurkat T cells. We suggest HIF-1 as a potential pharmacological target for counteracting immune system deterioration during space flight.
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Tascher G, Gerbaix M, Maes P, Chazarin B, Ghislin S, Antropova E, Vassilieva G, Ouzren-Zarhloul N, Gauquelin-Koch G, Vico L, Frippiat JP, Bertile F. Analysis of femurs from mice embarked on board BION-M1 biosatellite reveals a decrease in immune cell development, including B cells, after 1 wk of recovery on Earth. FASEB J 2018; 33:3772-3783. [PMID: 30521760 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801463r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Bone loss and immune dysregulation are among the main adverse outcomes of spaceflight challenging astronauts' health and safety. However, consequences on B-cell development and responses are still under-investigated. To fill this gap, we used advanced proteomics analysis of femur bone and marrow to compare mice flown for 1 mo on board the BION-M1 biosatellite, followed or not by 1 wk of recovery on Earth, to control mice kept on Earth. Our data revealed an adverse effect on B lymphopoiesis 1 wk after landing. This phenomenon was associated with a 41% reduction of B cells in the spleen. These reductions may contribute to explain increased susceptibility to infection even if our data suggest that flown animals can mount a humoral immune response. Future studies should investigate the quality/efficiency of produced antibodies and whether longer missions worsen these immune alterations.-Tascher, G., Gerbaix, M., Maes, P., Chazarin, B., Ghislin, S., Antropova, E., Vassilieva, G., Ouzren-Zarhloul, N., Gauquelin-Koch, G., Vico, L., Frippiat, J.-P., Bertile, F. Analysis of femurs from mice embarked on board BION-M1 biosatellite reveals a decrease in immune cell development, including B cells, after 1 wk of recovery on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Tascher
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Paris, France
| | - Maude Gerbaix
- Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Paris, France.,INSERM, Unité 1059 Sainbiose, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lyon-Université Jean Monnet, Campus Santé Innovation, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Pauline Maes
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Blandine Chazarin
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Ghislin
- Equipe d'Accueil 7300, Stress Immunity Pathogens Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Lorraine University, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Evgenia Antropova
- Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Galina Vassilieva
- Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nassima Ouzren-Zarhloul
- Equipe d'Accueil 7300, Stress Immunity Pathogens Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Lorraine University, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | | | - Laurence Vico
- INSERM, Unité 1059 Sainbiose, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lyon-Université Jean Monnet, Campus Santé Innovation, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Jean-Pol Frippiat
- Equipe d'Accueil 7300, Stress Immunity Pathogens Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Lorraine University, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Fabrice Bertile
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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Smith JK. IL-6 and the dysregulation of immune, bone, muscle, and metabolic homeostasis during spaceflight. NPJ Microgravity 2018; 4:24. [PMID: 30534586 PMCID: PMC6279793 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-018-0057-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously reported that exercise-related secretion of IL-6 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells is proportionate to body weight, suggesting that IL-6 is gravisensitive and that suboptimal production of this key cytokine may contribute to homeostatic dysregulations that occur during spaceflight. This review details what is known about the role of this key cytokine in innate and adaptive immunity, hematopoiesis, and in bone, muscle and metabolic homeostasis on Earth and in the microgravity of space and suggests an experimental approach to confirm or disavow the role of IL-6 in space-related dysregulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Kelly Smith
- Departments of Academic Affairs and Biomedical Sciences, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN USA
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36
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Stem Cell Culture in Microgravity and Its Application in Cell-Based Therapy. Stem Cells Dev 2018; 27:1298-1302. [DOI: 10.1089/scd.2017.0298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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37
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Thiel CS, Tauber S, Christoffel S, Huge A, Lauber BA, Polzer J, Paulsen K, Lier H, Engelmann F, Schmitz B, Schütte A, Raig C, Layer LE, Ullrich O. Rapid coupling between gravitational forces and the transcriptome in human myelomonocytic U937 cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13267. [PMID: 30185876 PMCID: PMC6125427 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31596-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The gravitational force has been constant throughout Earth's evolutionary history. Since the cell nucleus is subjected to permanent forces induced by Earth's gravity, we addressed the question, if gene expression homeostasis is constantly shaped by the gravitational force on Earth. We therefore investigated the transcriptome in force-free conditions of microgravity, determined the time frame of initial gravitational force-transduction to the transcriptome and assessed the role of cation channels. We combined a parabolic flight experiment campaign with a suborbital ballistic rocket experiment employing the human myelomonocytic cell line U937 and analyzed the whole gene transcription by microarray, using rigorous controls for exclusion of effects not related to gravitational force and cross-validation through two fully independent research campaigns. Experiments with the wide range ion channel inhibitor SKF-96365 in combination with whole transcriptome analysis were conducted to study the functional role of ion channels in the transduction of gravitational forces at an integrative level. We detected profound alterations in the transcriptome already after 20 s of microgravity or hypergravity. In microgravity, 99.43% of all initially altered transcripts adapted after 5 min. In hypergravity, 98.93% of all initially altered transcripts adapted after 75 s. Only 2.4% of all microgravity-regulated transcripts were sensitive to the cation channel inhibitor SKF-96365. Inter-platform comparison of differentially regulated transcripts revealed 57 annotated gravity-sensitive transcripts. We assume that gravitational forces are rapidly and constantly transduced into the nucleus as omnipresent condition for nuclear and chromatin structure as well as homeostasis of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora S Thiel
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Svantje Tauber
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Swantje Christoffel
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Huge
- Core Facility Genomic, Medical Faculty of Muenster, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D3, Domagstrasse 3, 48149, Muenster, Germany
| | - Beatrice A Lauber
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Polzer
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Paulsen
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hartwin Lier
- KEK GmbH, Kemberger Str. 5, 06905, Bad Schmiedeberg, Germany
| | - Frank Engelmann
- KEK GmbH, Kemberger Str. 5, 06905, Bad Schmiedeberg, Germany
- Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | | | | | - Christiane Raig
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Liliana E Layer
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Ullrich
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Zhao T, Li R, Tan X, Zhang J, Fan C, Zhao Q, Deng Y, Xu A, Lukong KE, Genth H, Xiang J. Simulated Microgravity Reduces Focal Adhesions and Alters Cytoskeleton and Nuclear Positioning Leading to Enhanced Apoptosis via Suppressing FAK/RhoA-Mediated mTORC1/NF-κB and ERK1/2 Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19071994. [PMID: 29986550 PMCID: PMC6073227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19071994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simulated-microgravity (SMG) promotes cell-apoptosis. We demonstrated that SMG inhibited cell proliferation/metastasis via FAK/RhoA-regulated mTORC1 pathway. Since mTORC1, NF-κB, and ERK1/2 signaling are important in cell apoptosis, we examined whether SMG-enhanced apoptosis is regulated via these signals controlled by FAK/RhoA in BL6-10 melanoma cells under clinostat-modelled SMG-condition. We show that SMG promotes cell-apoptosis, alters cytoskeleton, reduces focal adhesions (FAs), and suppresses FAK/RhoA signaling. SMG down-regulates expression of mTORC1-related Raptor, pS6K, pEIF4E, pNF-κB, and pNF-κB-regulated Bcl2, and induces relocalization of pNF-κB from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. In addition, SMG also inhibits expression of nuclear envelope proteins (NEPs) lamin-A, emerin, sun1, and nesprin-3, which control nuclear positioning, and suppresses nuclear positioning-regulated pERK1/2 signaling. Moreover, rapamycin, the mTORC1 inhibitor, also enhances apoptosis in cells under 1 g condition via suppressing the mTORC1/NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, the FAK/RhoA activator, toxin cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 (CNF1), reduces cell apoptosis, restores the cytoskeleton, FAs, NEPs, and nuclear positioning, and converts all of the above SMG-induced changes in molecular signaling in cells under SMG. Therefore, our data demonstrate that SMG reduces FAs and alters the cytoskeleton and nuclear positioning, leading to enhanced cell apoptosis via suppressing the FAK/RhoA-regulated mTORC1/NF-κB and ERK1/2 pathways. The FAK/RhoA regulatory network may, thus, become a new target for the development of novel therapeutics for humans under spaceflight conditions with stressed physiological challenges, and for other human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 10081, China.
| | - Rong Li
- Cancer Research, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4H4, Canada.
- Department of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
| | - Xin Tan
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 10081, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 10081, China.
| | - Cuihong Fan
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 10081, China.
| | - Qin Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 10081, China.
| | - Yulin Deng
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 10081, China.
| | - Aizhang Xu
- Cancer Research, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4H4, Canada.
- Department of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
| | - Kiven Erique Lukong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
| | - Harald Genth
- Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Jim Xiang
- Cancer Research, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4H4, Canada.
- Department of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
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Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC) technology to obviate loss of T cell responsiveness under simulated microgravity. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200128. [PMID: 29979723 PMCID: PMC6034838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations of the gravitational environment are likely to modify cell behavior. Several studies have proven that T cells are sensitive to gravity alterations and that microgravity conditions may induce immunosuppression and weakened T cell immune response in humans during spaceflights. The aim of this work was to elucidate if a specific treatment of Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC) technology could restore, after mitogenic activation (Con A), a correct expression of cytokine IL2 gene and its receptor IL2R alpha, which are inhibited in T cells under microgravity conditions, as demonstrated in several studies. The results of this study, conducted in microgravity simulated with Random Positioning Machine (RPM), confirm the T cell activation recovery and offer the evidence that REAC technology could contribute to the understanding of T cell growth responsiveness in space, reducing the impact of weightlessness on the immune system experienced by humans in long duration space missions.
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40
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Gaignier F, Legrand-Frossi C, Stragier E, Mathiot J, Merlin JL, Cohen-Salmon C, Lanfumey L, Frippiat JP. A Model of Chronic Exposure to Unpredictable Mild Socio-Environmental Stressors Replicates Some Spaceflight-Induced Immunological Changes. Front Physiol 2018; 9:514. [PMID: 29867558 PMCID: PMC5954118 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
During spaceflight, astronauts face radiations, mechanical, and socio-environmental stressors. To determine the impact of chronic socio-environmental stressors on immunity, we exposed adult male mice to chronic unpredictable mild psychosocial and environmental stressors (CUMS model) for 3 weeks. This duration was chosen to simulate a long flight at the human scale. Our data show that this combination of stressors induces an increase of serum IgA, a reduction of normalized splenic mass and tends to reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as previously reported during or after space missions. However, CUMS did not modify major splenic lymphocyte sub-populations and the proliferative responses of splenocytes suggesting that these changes could be due to other factors such as gravity changes. Thus, CUMS, which is an easy to implement model, could contribute to deepen our understanding of some spaceflight-associated immune alterations and could be useful to test countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Gaignier
- Stress Immunity Pathogens Laboratory, EA7300, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Christine Legrand-Frossi
- Stress Immunity Pathogens Laboratory, EA7300, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Emilien Stragier
- INSERM UMR894, Centre de Psychiatrie et Neuroscience, Paris, France
| | - Julianne Mathiot
- Stress Immunity Pathogens Laboratory, EA7300, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Jean-Louis Merlin
- Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Service de Biopathologie and CNRS UMR 7039 CRAN, Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Charles Cohen-Salmon
- INSERM U1141, PROTECT, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France
| | | | - Jean-Pol Frippiat
- Stress Immunity Pathogens Laboratory, EA7300, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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41
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La Barbera G, Capriotti AL, Michelini E, Piovesana S, Calabretta MM, Zenezini Chiozzi R, Roda A, Laganà A. Proteomic analysis and bioluminescent reporter gene assays to investigate effects of simulated microgravity on Caco-2 cells. Proteomics 2018; 17. [PMID: 28727291 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201700081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Microgravity is one of the most important features in spaceflight. Previous evidence from in-vitro studies has shown that significant changes occur under simulated microgravity. For this reason, human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells were selected as cell model of intestinal epithelial barrier and their response to altered gravity conditions was investigated, especially on the protein level. In this study, we combined label-free shotgun proteomics and bioluminescent reporter gene assays to identify key proteins and pathways involved in the response of Caco-2 cells under reference and microgravity conditions. A two-dimensional clinostat was modified with 3D-printed adaptors to hold conventional T25 culture flasks. The comparative proteome analysis led to identify 38 and 26 proteins differently regulated by simulated microgravity after 48 and 72 h, respectively. Substantial fractions of these proteins are involved in regulation, cellular and metabolic processes and localization. Bioluminescent reporter gene assays were carried out to investigate microgavity-induced alterations on the transcriptional regulation of key targets, such as NF-kB pathway and CYP27A1. While no significant difference was found in the basal transcription, a lower NF-kB basal activation in simulated microgravity conditions was reported, corroborating the hypothesis of reduced immunity in microgravity conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elisa Michelini
- Dipartimento di Chimica "G.Ciamician", Università di Bologna - Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna, Italy.,INBB, Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Rome, Italy
| | - Susy Piovesana
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Aldo Roda
- Dipartimento di Chimica "G.Ciamician", Università di Bologna - Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna, Italy.,INBB, Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Laganà
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
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42
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Ward C, Rettig TA, Hlavacek S, Bye BA, Pecaut MJ, Chapes SK. Effects of spaceflight on the immunoglobulin repertoire of unimmunized C57BL/6 mice. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2018; 16:63-75. [PMID: 29475521 PMCID: PMC5826609 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Spaceflight has been shown to suppress the adaptive immune response, altering the distribution and function of lymphocyte populations. B lymphocytes express highly specific and highly diversified receptors, known as immunoglobulins (Ig), that directly bind and neutralize pathogens. Ig diversity is achieved through the enzymatic splicing of gene segments within the genomic DNA of each B cell in a host. The collection of Ig specificities within a host, or Ig repertoire, has been increasingly characterized in both basic research and clinical settings using high-throughput sequencing technology (HTS). We utilized HTS to test the hypothesis that spaceflight affects the B-cell repertoire. To test this hypothesis, we characterized the impact of spaceflight on the unimmunized Ig repertoire of C57BL/6 mice that were flown aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during the Rodent Research One validation flight in comparison to ground controls. Individual gene segment usage was similar between ground control and flight animals, however, gene segment combinations and the junctions in which gene segments combine was varied among animals within and between treatment groups. We also found that spontaneous somatic mutations in the IgH and Igκ gene loci were not increased. These data suggest that space flight did not affect the B cell repertoire of mice flown and housed on the ISS over a short period of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Ward
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 1717 Claflin Rd, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66502, United States
| | - Trisha A Rettig
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 1717 Claflin Rd, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66502, United States
| | - Savannah Hlavacek
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 1717 Claflin Rd, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66502, United States
| | - Bailey A Bye
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 1717 Claflin Rd, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66502, United States
| | - Michael J Pecaut
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Radiation Research, Loma Linda University, 11021 Campus St. Rm 101, Loma Linda, CA 92350, United States
| | - Stephen K Chapes
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 1717 Claflin Rd, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66502, United States.
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43
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Thiel CS, Huge A, Hauschild S, Tauber S, Lauber BA, Polzer J, Paulsen K, Lier H, Engelmann F, Schmitz B, Schütte A, Layer LE, Ullrich O. Stability of gene expression in human T cells in different gravity environments is clustered in chromosomal region 11p15.4. NPJ Microgravity 2017; 3:22. [PMID: 28868355 PMCID: PMC5579209 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-017-0028-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, a plethora of in vitro studies with living human cells contributed a vast amount of knowledge about cellular and molecular effects of microgravity. Previous studies focused mostly on the identification of gravity-responsive genes, whereas a multi-platform analysis at an integrative level, which specifically evaluates the extent and robustness of transcriptional response to an altered gravity environment was not performed so far. Therefore, we investigated the stability of gene expression response in non-activated human Jurkat T lymphocytic cells in different gravity environments through the combination of parabolic flights with a suborbital ballistic rocket and 2D clinostat and centrifuge experiments, using strict controls for excluding all possible other factors of influence. We revealed an overall high stability of gene expression in microgravity and identified olfactory gene expression in the chromosomal region 11p15.4 as particularly robust to altered gravity. We identified that classical reference genes ABCA5, GAPDH, HPRT1, PLA2G4A, and RPL13A were stably expressed in all tested gravity conditions and platforms, while ABCA5 and GAPDH were also known to be stably expressed in U937 cells in all gravity conditions. In summary, 10-20% of all transcripts remained totally unchanged in any gravitational environment tested (between 10-4 and 9 g), 20-40% remained unchanged in microgravity (between 10-4 and 10-2 g) and 97-99% were not significantly altered in microgravity if strict exclusion criteria were applied. Therefore, we suppose a high stability of gene expression in microgravity. Comparison with other stressors suggests that microgravity alters gene expression homeostasis not stronger than other environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora S Thiel
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Huge
- Core Facility Genomic, Medical Faculty of Muenster, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D3, Domagstrasse 3, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Swantje Hauschild
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Svantje Tauber
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Beatrice A Lauber
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Polzer
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Paulsen
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hartwin Lier
- KEK GmbH, Kemberger Str. 5, D-06905 Bad Schmiedeberg, Germany
| | - Frank Engelmann
- KEK GmbH, Kemberger Str. 5, D-06905 Bad Schmiedeberg, Germany.,Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 2, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Burkhard Schmitz
- Airbus Defence and Space, Airbus DS GmbH, D-28199 Bremen, Germany
| | - Andreas Schütte
- Airbus Defence and Space, Airbus DS GmbH, D-28199 Bremen, Germany
| | - Liliana E Layer
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Ullrich
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Space Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
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44
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Dynamic gene expression response to altered gravity in human T cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5204. [PMID: 28701719 PMCID: PMC5507981 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05580-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the dynamics of immediate and initial gene expression response to different gravitational environments in human Jurkat T lymphocytic cells and compared expression profiles to identify potential gravity-regulated genes and adaptation processes. We used the Affymetrix GeneChip® Human Transcriptome Array 2.0 containing 44,699 protein coding genes and 22,829 non-protein coding genes and performed the experiments during a parabolic flight and a suborbital ballistic rocket mission to cross-validate gravity-regulated gene expression through independent research platforms and different sets of control experiments to exclude other factors than alteration of gravity. We found that gene expression in human T cells rapidly responded to altered gravity in the time frame of 20 s and 5 min. The initial response to microgravity involved mostly regulatory RNAs. We identified three gravity-regulated genes which could be cross-validated in both completely independent experiment missions: ATP6V1A/D, a vacuolar H + -ATPase (V-ATPase) responsible for acidification during bone resorption, IGHD3-3/IGHD3-10, diversity genes of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus participating in V(D)J recombination, and LINC00837, a long intergenic non-protein coding RNA. Due to the extensive and rapid alteration of gene expression associated with regulatory RNAs, we conclude that human cells are equipped with a robust and efficient adaptation potential when challenged with altered gravitational environments.
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45
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Transcriptomics, NF-κB Pathway, and Their Potential Spaceflight-Related Health Consequences. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18061166. [PMID: 28561779 PMCID: PMC5485990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18061166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In space, living organisms are exposed to multiple stress factors including microgravity and space radiation. For humans, these harmful environmental factors have been known to cause negative health impacts such as bone loss and immune dysfunction. Understanding the mechanisms by which spaceflight impacts human health at the molecular level is critical not only for accurately assessing the risks associated with spaceflight, but also for developing effective countermeasures. Over the years, a number of studies have been conducted under real or simulated space conditions. RNA and protein levels in cellular and animal models have been targeted in order to identify pathways affected by spaceflight. Of the many pathways responsive to the space environment, the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) network appears to commonly be affected across many different cell types under the true or simulated spaceflight conditions. NF-κB is of particular interest, as it is associated with many of the spaceflight-related health consequences. This review intends to summarize the transcriptomics studies that identified NF-κB as a responsive pathway to ground-based simulated microgravity or the true spaceflight condition. These studies were carried out using either human cell or animal models. In addition, the review summarizes the studies that focused specifically on NF-κB pathway in specific cell types or organ tissues as related to the known spaceflight-related health risks including immune dysfunction, bone loss, muscle atrophy, central nerve system (CNS) dysfunction, and risks associated with space radiation. Whether the NF-κB pathway is activated or inhibited in space is dependent on the cell type, but the potential health impact appeared to be always negative. It is argued that more studies on NF-κB should be conducted to fully understand this particular pathway for the benefit of crew health in space.
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46
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Finley J. Elimination of cancer stem cells and reactivation of latent HIV-1 via AMPK activation: Common mechanism of action linking inhibition of tumorigenesis and the potential eradication of HIV-1. Med Hypotheses 2017; 104:133-146. [PMID: 28673572 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Although promising treatments are currently in development to slow disease progression and increase patient survival, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. Cancer treatment modalities commonly include chemoradiation and therapies that target components of aberrantly activated signaling pathways. However, treatment resistance is a common occurrence and recent evidence indicates that the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) may underlie the limited efficacy and inability of current treatments to effectuate a cure. CSCs, which are largely resistant to chemoradiation therapy, are a subpopulation of cancer cells that exhibit characteristics similar to embryonic stem cells (ESCs), including self-renewal, multi-lineage differentiation, and the ability to initiate tumorigenesis. Interestingly, intracellular mechanisms that sustain quiescence and promote self-renewal in adult stem cells (ASCs) and CSCs likely also function to maintain latency of HIV-1 in CD4+ memory T cells. Although antiretroviral therapy is highly effective in controlling HIV-1 replication, the persistence of latent but replication-competent proviruses necessitates the development of compounds that are capable of selectively reactivating the latent virus, a method known as the "shock and kill" approach. Homeostatic proliferation in central CD4+ memory T (TCM) cells, a memory T cell subset that exhibits limited self-renewal and differentiation and is a primary reservoir for latent HIV-1, has been shown to reinforce and stabilize the latent reservoir in the absence of T cell activation and differentiation. HIV-1 has also been found to establish durable and long-lasting latency in a recently discovered subset of CD4+ T cells known as T memory stem (TSCM) cells. TSCM cells, compared to TCM cells, exhibit stem cell properties that more closely match those of ESCs and ASCs, including self-renewal and differentiation into all memory T cell subsets. It is our hypothesis that activation of AMPK, a master regulator of cellular metabolism that plays a critical role in T cell activation and differentiation of ESCs and ASCs, will lead to both T cell activation-induced latent HIV-1 reactivation, facilitating virus destruction, as well as "activation", differentiation, and/or apoptosis of CSCs, thus inhibiting tumorigenesis. We also propose the novel observation that compounds that have been shown to both facilitate latent HIV-1 reactivation and promote CSC differentiation/apoptosis (e.g. bryostatin-1, JQ1, metformin, butyrate, etc.) likely do so through a common mechanism of AMPK activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jahahreeh Finley
- Finley BioSciences, 9900 Richmond Avenue, #823, Houston, TX 77042-4539, United States.
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47
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48
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Frippiat JP, Crucian BE, de Quervain DJF, Grimm D, Montano N, Praun S, Roozendaal B, Schelling G, Thiel M, Ullrich O, Choukèr A. Towards human exploration of space: The THESEUS review series on immunology research priorities. NPJ Microgravity 2016; 2:16040. [PMID: 28725745 PMCID: PMC5515533 DOI: 10.1038/npjmgrav.2016.40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2016] [Revised: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the immune system occurs during spaceflight and may represent a crew health risk during exploration missions because astronauts are challenged by many stressors. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the biology of immune modulation under spaceflight conditions in order to be able to maintain immune homeostasis under such challenges. In the framework of the THESEUS project whose aim was to develop an integrated life sciences research roadmap regarding human space exploration, experts working in the field of space immunology, and related disciplines, established a questionnaire sent to scientists around the world. From the review of collected answers, they deduced a list of key issues and provided several recommendations such as a maximal exploitation of currently available resources on Earth and in space, and to increase increments duration for some ISS crew members to 12 months or longer. These recommendations should contribute to improve our knowledge about spaceflight effects on the immune system and the development of countermeasures that, beyond astronauts, could have a societal impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pol Frippiat
- Stress Immunity Pathogens Laboratory, EA7300, Lorraine University, Nancy, France
| | | | | | - Daniela Grimm
- Department of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nicola Montano
- Cardiovascular Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Benno Roozendaal
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Centre and Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gustav Schelling
- Department of Anaesthesiology, 'Stress and Immunity' Laboratory, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Manfred Thiel
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Ullrich
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Choukèr
- Department of Anaesthesiology, 'Stress and Immunity' Laboratory, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Mukhopadhyay S, Saha R, Palanisamy A, Ghosh M, Biswas A, Roy S, Pal A, Sarkar K, Bagh S. A systems biology pipeline identifies new immune and disease related molecular signatures and networks in human cells during microgravity exposure. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25975. [PMID: 27185415 PMCID: PMC4868995 DOI: 10.1038/srep25975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microgravity is a prominent health hazard for astronauts, yet we understand little about its effect at the molecular systems level. In this study, we have integrated a set of systems-biology tools and databases and have analysed more than 8000 molecular pathways on published global gene expression datasets of human cells in microgravity. Hundreds of new pathways have been identified with statistical confidence for each dataset and despite the difference in cell types and experiments, around 100 of the new pathways are appeared common across the datasets. They are related to reduced inflammation, autoimmunity, diabetes and asthma. We have identified downregulation of NfκB pathway via Notch1 signalling as new pathway for reduced immunity in microgravity. Induction of few cancer types including liver cancer and leukaemia and increased drug response to cancer in microgravity are also found. Increase in olfactory signal transduction is also identified. Genes, based on their expression pattern, are clustered and mathematically stable clusters are identified. The network mapping of genes within a cluster indicates the plausible functional connections in microgravity. This pipeline gives a new systems level picture of human cells under microgravity, generates testable hypothesis and may help estimating risk and developing medicine for space missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayak Mukhopadhyay
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - Rohini Saha
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - Anbarasi Palanisamy
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - Madhurima Ghosh
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - Anupriya Biswas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, 700073, India
| | - Saheli Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, 700073, India
| | - Arijit Pal
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - Kathakali Sarkar
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - Sangram Bagh
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, 700064, India
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Zhao T, Tang X, Umeshappa CS, Ma H, Gao H, Deng Y, Freywald A, Xiang J. Simulated Microgravity Promotes Cell Apoptosis Through Suppressing Uev1A/TICAM/TRAF/NF-κB-Regulated Anti-Apoptosis and p53/PCNA- and ATM/ATR-Chk1/2-Controlled DNA-Damage Response Pathways. J Cell Biochem 2016; 117:2138-48. [PMID: 26887372 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Microgravity has been known to induce cell death. However, its underlying mechanism is less studied. In this study, BL6-10 melanoma cells were cultured in flasks under simulated microgravity (SMG). We examined cell apoptosis, and assessed expression of genes associated with apoptosis and genes regulating apoptosis in cells under SMG. We demonstrate that SMG induces cell morphological changes and microtubule alterations by confocal microscopy, and enhances apoptosis by flow cytometry, which was associated with up- and down-regulation of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes, respectively. Moreover, up- and down-regulation of pro-apoptotic (Caspases 3, 7, 8) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl2 and Bnip3) molecules was confirmed by Western blotting analysis. Western blot analysis also indicates that SMG causes inhibition of an apoptosis suppressor, pNF-κB-p65, which is complemented by the predominant localization of NF-κB-p65 in the cytoplasm. SMG also reduces expression of molecules regulating the NF-κB pathway including Uev1A, TICAM, TRAF2, and TRAF6. Interestingly, 10 DNA repair genes are down-regulated in cells exposed to SMG, among which down-regulation of Parp, Ercc8, Rad23, Rad51, and Ku70 was confirmed by Western blotting analysis. In addition, we demonstrate a significant inhibition of molecules involved in the DNA-damage response, such as p53, PCNA, ATM/ATR, and Chk1/2. Taken together, our work reveals that SMG promotes the apoptotic response through a combined modulation of the Uev1A/TICAM/TRAF/NF-κB-regulated apoptosis and the p53/PCNA- and ATM/ATR-Chk1/2-controlled DNA-damage response pathways. Thus, our investigation provides novel information, which may help us to determine the cause of negative alterations in human physiology occurring at spaceflight environment. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2138-2148, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Zhao
- Aerospace Institute of Medical Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Tang
- Aerospace Institute of Medical Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | | | - Hong Ma
- Aerospace Institute of Medical Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Haijun Gao
- Aerospace Institute of Medical Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yulin Deng
- Aerospace Institute of Medical Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Andrew Freywald
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jim Xiang
- Aerospace Institute of Medical Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.,Cancer Research Cluster, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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