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Costa F, Ambesi-Impiombato FS, Beccari T, Conte C, Cataldi S, Curcio F, Albi E. Spaceflight Induced Disorders: Potential Nutritional Countermeasures. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:666683. [PMID: 33968917 PMCID: PMC8096993 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.666683] [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: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Space travel is an extreme experience even for the astronaut who has received extensive basic training in various fields, from aeronautics to engineering, from medicine to physics and biology. Microgravity puts a strain on members of space crews, both physically and mentally: short-term or long-term travel in orbit the International Space Station may have serious repercussions on the human body, which may undergo physiological changes affecting almost all organs and systems, particularly at the muscular, cardiovascular and bone compartments. This review aims to highlight recent studies describing damages of human body induced by the space environment for microgravity, and radiation. All novel conditions, to ally unknown to the Darwinian selection strategies on Earth, to which we should add the psychological stress that astronauts suffer due to the inevitable forced cohabitation in claustrophobic environments, the deprivation from their affections and the need to adapt to a new lifestyle with molecular changes due to the confinement. In this context, significant nutritional deficiencies with consequent molecular mechanism changes in the cells that induce to the onset of physiological and cognitive impairment have been considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Costa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Tommaso Beccari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carmela Conte
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Samuela Cataldi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Elisabetta Albi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Albi E, Krüger M, Hemmersbach R, Lazzarini A, Cataldi S, Codini M, Beccari T, Ambesi-Impiombato FS, Curcio F. Impact of Gravity on Thyroid Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E972. [PMID: 28471415 PMCID: PMC5454885 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18050972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical and mental health requires a correct functioning of the thyroid gland, which controls cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, nervous, and immune systems, and affects behavior and cognitive functions. Microgravity, as occurs during space missions, induces morphological and functional changes within the thyroid gland. Here, we review relevant experiments exposing cell cultures (normal and cancer thyroid cells) to simulated and real microgravity, as well as wild-type and transgenic mice to hypergravity and spaceflight conditions. Well-known mechanisms of damage are presented and new ones, such as changes of gene expression for extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton proteins, thyrocyte phenotype, sensitivity of thyrocytes to thyrotropin due to thyrotropin receptor modification, parafollicular cells and calcitonin production, sphingomyelin metabolism, and the expression and movement of cancer molecules from thyrocytes to colloids are highlighted. The identification of new mechanisms of thyroid injury is essential for the development of countermeasures, both on the ground and in space, against thyroid cancer. We also address the question whether normal and cancer cells show a different sensitivity concerning changes of environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Albi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, San Costanzo, via Romana, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Marcus Krüger
- Clinic and Policlinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Ruth Hemmersbach
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Gravitational Biology, Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Andrea Lazzarini
- Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, Perugia, via Ponchielli 4, 06073 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Samuela Cataldi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, San Costanzo, via Romana, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Michela Codini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, San Costanzo, via Romana, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Tommaso Beccari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, San Costanzo, via Romana, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | | | - Francesco Curcio
- Dipartimento di Area Medica (DAME), University of Udine, p.le M. Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy.
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e-Cadherin in 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-Induced Parkinson Disease. Mediators Inflamm 2016; 2016:3937057. [PMID: 27194825 PMCID: PMC4852763 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3937057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Today a large number of studies are focused on clarifying the complexity and diversity of the pathogenetic mechanisms inducing Parkinson disease. We used 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a neurotoxin that induces Parkinson disease, to evaluate the change of midbrain structure and the behavior of the anti-inflammatory factor e-cadherin, interleukin-6, tyrosine hydroxylase, phosphatase and tensin homolog, and caveolin-1. The results showed a strong expression of e-cadherin, variation of length and thickness of the heavy neurofilaments, increase of interleukin-6, and reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase known to be expression of dopamine cell loss, reduction of phosphatase and tensin homolog described to impair responses to dopamine, and reduction of caveolin-1 known to be expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and fibrosis. The possibility that the overexpression of the e-cadherin might be implicated in the anti-inflammatory reaction to MPTP treatment by influencing the behavior of the other analyzed molecules is discussed.
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Riwaldt S, Bauer J, Wehland M, Slumstrup L, Kopp S, Warnke E, Dittrich A, Magnusson NE, Pietsch J, Corydon TJ, Infanger M, Grimm D. Pathways Regulating Spheroid Formation of Human Follicular Thyroid Cancer Cells under Simulated Microgravity Conditions: A Genetic Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:528. [PMID: 27070589 PMCID: PMC4848984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17040528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Microgravity induces three-dimensional (3D) growth in numerous cell types. Despite substantial efforts to clarify the underlying mechanisms for spheroid formation, the precise molecular pathways are still not known. The principal aim of this paper is to compare static 1g-control cells with spheroid forming (MCS) and spheroid non-forming (AD) thyroid cancer cells cultured in the same flask under simulated microgravity conditions. We investigated the morphology and gene expression patterns in human follicular thyroid cancer cells (UCLA RO82-W-1 cell line) after a 24 h-exposure on the Random Positioning Machine (RPM) and focused on 3D growth signaling processes. After 24 h, spheroid formation was observed in RPM-cultures together with alterations in the F-actin cytoskeleton. qPCR indicated more changes in gene expression in MCS than in AD cells. Of the 24 genes analyzed VEGFA, VEGFD, MSN, and MMP3 were upregulated in MCS compared to 1g-controls, whereas ACTB, ACTA2, KRT8, TUBB, EZR, RDX, PRKCA, CAV1, MMP9, PAI1, CTGF, MCP1 were downregulated. A pathway analysis revealed that the upregulated genes code for proteins, which promote 3D growth (angiogenesis) and prevent excessive accumulation of extracellular proteins, while genes coding for structural proteins are downregulated. Pathways regulating the strength/rigidity of cytoskeletal proteins, the amount of extracellular proteins, and 3D growth may be involved in MCS formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Riwaldt
- Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University Clinic, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Johann Bauer
- Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Markus Wehland
- Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University Clinic, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Lasse Slumstrup
- Institute of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Sascha Kopp
- Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University Clinic, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Elisabeth Warnke
- Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University Clinic, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Anita Dittrich
- Institute of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Nils E Magnusson
- Medical Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Jessica Pietsch
- Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University Clinic, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Thomas J Corydon
- Institute of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Manfred Infanger
- Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University Clinic, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Daniela Grimm
- Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University Clinic, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
- Institute of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
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Albi E, Curcio F, Lazzarini A, Floridi A, Cataldi S, Lazzarini R, Loreti E, Ferri I, Ambesi-Impiombato FS. How microgravity changes galectin-3 in thyroid follicles. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:652863. [PMID: 25328888 PMCID: PMC4190981 DOI: 10.1155/2014/652863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
After long-term exposure to real microgravity thyroid gland in vivo undergoes specific changes, follicles are made up of larger thyrocytes that produce more cAMP and express more thyrotropin-receptor, caveolin-1, and sphingomyelinase and sphingomyelin-synthase; parafollicular spaces lose C cells with consequent reduction of calcitonin production. Here we studied four immunohistochemical tumor markers (HBME-1, MIB-1, CK19, and Galectin-3) in thyroid of mice housed in the Mouse Drawer System and maintained for 90 days in the International Space Station. Results showed that MIB-1 proliferative index and CK19 are negative whereas HBME-1 and Galectin-3 are overexpressed. The positivity of Galectin-3 deserves attention not only for its expression but also and especially for its localization. Our results highlighted that, in microgravity conditions, Galectin-3 leaves thyrocytes and diffuses in colloid. It is possible that the gravity force contributes to the maintenance of the distribution of the molecules in both basal membrane side and apical membrane side and that the microgravity facilitates slippage of Galectin-3 in colloid probably due to membrane remodelling-microgravity induced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Albi
- Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, 06100 Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Curcio
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Andrea Lazzarini
- Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, 06100 Perugia, Italy
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | | | - Samuela Cataldi
- Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, 06100 Perugia, Italy
| | - Remo Lazzarini
- Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, 06100 Perugia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Loreti
- Institute of Pathologic Anatomy and Histology, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia, Italy
| | - Ivana Ferri
- Institute of Pathologic Anatomy and Histology, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia, Italy
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Albi E, Ambesi-Impiombato FS, Lazzarini A, Lazzarini R, Floridi A, Cataldi S, Loreti E, Ferri I, Curcio F. Reinterpretation of mouse thyroid changes under space conditions: the contribution of confinement to damage. ASTROBIOLOGY 2014; 14:563-567. [PMID: 24945896 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2014.1166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
During space missions, astronauts work in a state of separation from their daily social environment and in physical confinement. It has been shown that confinement influences mood and brain cortical activity, but no data has been obtained with regard to its effect on the thyroid gland, the structure and function of which change during spaceflights. Here, we report the results of a study on the effects of confinement on mouse thyroid, which was implemented with the Mice Drawer System Facility maintained on the ground, a system used for spaceflight experiments. The results show that confinement changes the microscopic structure of the thyroid gland and that it exhibits symptoms similar to those that result from physiological and/or pathological hyperfunction. What is left unchanged, however, is the sphingomyelinase-thyrotropin receptor relationship, which is important for thyrotropin response with a consequential production of hormones that act on the metabolism of almost all tissues and reduces the production of calcitonin, a hormone involved in bone metabolism. During space missions, the overexpression of pleiotrophin, a widespread cytokine up-regulated after tissue injury that acts on bone remodeling, attenuates changes to the thyroid that are spaceflight-dependent; therefore we studied the thyroids of pleiotrophin-transgenic mice in the Mice Drawer System Facility. In confinement, pleiotrophin overexpression does not protect from the loss of calcitonin. The contribution of confinement to thyroid damage during spaceflights is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Albi
- 1 Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology , CRABiON, Perugia, Italy
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Albi E, Curcio F, Lazzarini A, Floridi A, Cataldi S, Lazzarini R, Loreti E, Ferri I, Ambesi-Impiombato FS. A firmer understanding of the effect of hypergravity on thyroid tissue: cholesterol and thyrotropin receptor. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98250. [PMID: 24866829 PMCID: PMC4035327 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintaining a good health requires the maintenance of a body homeostasis which largely depends on correct functioning of thyroid gland. The cells of the thyroid tissue are strongly sensitive to hypogravity, as already proven in mice after returning to the earth from long-term space missions. Here we studied whether hypergravity may be used to counteract the physiological deconditioning of long-duration spaceflight. We investigated the influence of hypergravity on key lipids and proteins involved in thyroid tissue function. We quantified cholesterol (CHO) and different species of sphingomyelin (SM) and ceramide, analysed thyrotropin (TSH) related molecules such as thyrotropin-receptor (TSHR), cAMP, Caveolin-1 and molecule signalling such as Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3). The hypergravity treatment resulted in the upregulation of the TSHR and Caveolin-1 and downregulation of STAT3 without changes of cAMP. TSHR lost its specific localization and spread throughout the cell membrane; TSH treatment facilitated the shedding of α subunit of TSHR and its releasing into the extracellular space. No specific variations were observed for each species of SM and ceramide. Importantly, the level of CHO was strongly reduced. In conclusion, hypergravity conditions induce change in CHO and TSHR of thyroid gland. The possibility that lipid rafts are strongly perturbed by hypergravity-induced CHO depletion by influencing TSH-TSHR interaction was discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Albi
- Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABioN, Perugia, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Francesco Curcio
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Andrea Lazzarini
- Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABioN, Perugia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | | | - Samuela Cataldi
- Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABioN, Perugia, Italy
| | - Remo Lazzarini
- Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABioN, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Loreti
- Institute of Pathologic Anatomy and Histology - University of Perugia, Ospedale Santa Maria Della Misericordia - Piazzale Menghini, Italy
| | - Ivana Ferri
- Institute of Pathologic Anatomy and Histology - University of Perugia, Ospedale Santa Maria Della Misericordia - Piazzale Menghini, Italy
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Grimm D, Wehland M, Pietsch J, Aleshcheva G, Wise P, van Loon J, Ulbrich C, Magnusson NE, Infanger M, Bauer J. Growing tissues in real and simulated microgravity: new methods for tissue engineering. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART B-REVIEWS 2014; 20:555-66. [PMID: 24597549 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2013.0704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Tissue engineering in simulated (s-) and real microgravity (r-μg) is currently a topic in Space medicine contributing to biomedical sciences and their applications on Earth. The principal aim of this review is to highlight the advances and accomplishments in the field of tissue engineering that could be achieved by culturing cells in Space or by devices created to simulate microgravity on Earth. Understanding the biology of three-dimensional (3D) multicellular structures is very important for a more complete appreciation of in vivo tissue function and advancing in vitro tissue engineering efforts. Various cells exposed to r-μg in Space or to s-μg created by a random positioning machine, a 2D-clinostat, or a rotating wall vessel bioreactor grew in the form of 3D tissues. Hence, these methods represent a new strategy for tissue engineering of a variety of tissues, such as regenerated cartilage, artificial vessel constructs, and other organ tissues as well as multicellular cancer spheroids. These aggregates are used to study molecular mechanisms involved in angiogenesis, cancer development, and biology and for pharmacological testing of, for example, chemotherapeutic drugs or inhibitors of neoangiogenesis. Moreover, they are useful for studying multicellular responses in toxicology and radiation biology, or for performing coculture experiments. The future will show whether these tissue-engineered constructs can be used for medical transplantations. Unveiling the mechanisms of microgravity-dependent molecular and cellular changes is an up-to-date requirement for improving Space medicine and developing new treatment strategies that can be translated to in vivo models while reducing the use of laboratory animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Grimm
- 1 Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Aarhus University , Aarhus, Denmark
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