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Vahlensieck C, Thiel CS, Mosimann M, Bradley T, Caldana F, Polzer J, Lauber BA, Ullrich O. Transcriptional Response in Human Jurkat T Lymphocytes to a near Physiological Hypergravity Environment and to One Common in Routine Cell Culture Protocols. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021351. [PMID: 36674869 PMCID: PMC9863927 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular effects of hypergravity have been described in many studies. We investigated the transcriptional dynamics in Jurkat T cells between 20 s and 60 min of 9 g hypergravity and characterized a highly dynamic biphasic time course of gene expression response with a transition point between rapid adaptation and long-term response at approximately 7 min. Upregulated genes were shifted towards the center of the nuclei, whereby downregulated genes were shifted towards the periphery. Upregulated gene expression was mostly located on chromosomes 16-22. Protein-coding transcripts formed the majority with more than 90% of all differentially expressed genes and followed a continuous trend of downregulation, whereas retained introns demonstrated a biphasic time-course. The gene expression pattern of hypergravity response was not comparable with other stress factors such as oxidative stress, heat shock or inflammation. Furthermore, we tested a routine centrifugation protocol that is widely used to harvest cells for subsequent RNA analysis and detected a huge impact on the transcriptome compared to non-centrifuged samples, which did not return to baseline within 15 min. Thus, we recommend carefully studying the response of any cell types used for any experiments regarding the hypergravity time and levels applied during cell culture procedures and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Vahlensieck
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cora Sandra 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
- Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL), Kennedy Space Center, 505 Odyssey Way, Exploration Park, FL 32953, USA
- UZH Space Hub, Air Force Center, Air Base Dübendorf, Überlandstrasse 270, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (C.S.T.); (O.U.)
| | - Meret Mosimann
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Timothy Bradley
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Caldana
- 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
| | - Beatrice Astrid Lauber
- 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
- Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL), Kennedy Space Center, 505 Odyssey Way, Exploration Park, FL 32953, USA
- UZH Space Hub, Air Force Center, Air Base Dübendorf, Überlandstrasse 270, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule (EAH) Jena, Department of Industrial Engineering, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 2, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (C.S.T.); (O.U.)
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Rapid Downregulation of H3K4me3 Binding to Immunoregulatory Genes in Altered Gravity in Primary Human M1 Macrophages. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010603. [PMID: 36614046 PMCID: PMC9820304 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The sensitivity of human immune system cells to gravity changes has been investigated in numerous studies. Human macrophages mediate innate and thus rapid immune defense on the one hand and activate T- and B-cell-based adaptive immune response on the other hand. In this process they finally act as immunoeffector cells, and are essential for tissue regeneration and remodeling. Recently, we demonstrated in the human Jurkat T cell line that genes are differentially regulated in cluster structures under altered gravity. In order to study an in vivo near system of immunologically relevant human cells under physically real microgravity, we performed parabolic flight experiments with primary human M1 macrophages under highly standardized conditions and performed chromatin immunoprecipitation DNA sequencing (ChIP-Seq) for whole-genome epigenetic detection of the DNA-binding loci of the main transcription complex RNA polymerase II and the transcription-associated epigenetic chromatin modification H3K4me3. We identified an overall downregulation of H3K4me3 binding loci in altered gravity, which were unequally distributed inter- and intrachromosomally throughout the genome. Three-quarters of all affected loci were located on the p arm of the chromosomes chr5, chr6, chr9, and chr19. The genomic distribution of the downregulated H3K4me3 loci corresponds to a substantial extent to immunoregulatory genes. In microgravity, analysis of RNA polymerase II binding showed increased binding to multiple loci at coding sequences but decreased binding to central noncoding regions. Detection of altered DNA binding of RNA polymerase II provided direct evidence that gravity changes can lead to altered transcription. Based on this study, we hypothesize that the rapid transcriptional response to changing gravitational forces is specifically encoded in the epigenetic organization of chromatin.
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Wang W, Di Nisio E, Licursi V, Cacci E, Lupo G, Kokaia Z, Galanti S, Degan P, D’Angelo S, Castagnola P, Tavella S, Negri R. Simulated Microgravity Modulates Focal Adhesion Gene Expression in Human Neural Stem Progenitor Cells. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12111827. [PMID: 36362982 PMCID: PMC9699612 DOI: 10.3390/life12111827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We analyzed the morphology and the transcriptomic changes of human neural stem progenitor cells (hNSPCs) grown on laminin in adherent culture conditions and subjected to simulated microgravity for different times in a random positioning machine apparatus. Low-cell-density cultures exposed to simulated microgravity for 24 h showed cell aggregate formation and significant modulation of several genes involved in focal adhesion, cytoskeleton regulation, and cell cycle control. These effects were much more limited in hNSPCs cultured at high density in the same conditions. We also found that some of the genes modulated upon exposure to simulated microgravity showed similar changes in hNSPCs grown without laminin in non-adherent culture conditions under normal gravity. These results suggest that reduced gravity counteracts the interactions of cells with the extracellular matrix, inducing morphological and transcriptional changes that can be observed in low-density cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Di Nisio
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Licursi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR) of Italy c/o Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Cacci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lupo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Zaal Kokaia
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sergio Galanti
- Excise, Custom and Monopolies Agency, ADM, 00153 Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Degan
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Sara D’Angelo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Sara Tavella
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Negri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR) of Italy c/o Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Thiel CS, Vahlensieck C, Ullrich O. Assoziation schneller Reaktionen der Genexpression mit Änderungen der 3D-Chromatinkonformation in veränderter Schwerkraft. FLUGMEDIZIN · TROPENMEDIZIN · REISEMEDIZIN - FTR 2022. [DOI: 10.1055/a-1928-0420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDie molekularen Prinzipien bei der Transduktion von Schwerkraftänderungen in zelluläre Antwort- und Anpassungsprozesse sind bisher weitgehend unbekannt. Wir konnten in humanen Jurkat-T-Zellen zeigen, dass Gene bei veränderter Schwerkraft in Clusterstrukturen („gravity-responsive chromosomal regions“, GRCRs) differenziell reguliert werden. Durch Kombination mit Hochdurchsatz-Chromatin-Konformationsanalysen (Hi-C) konnte eine hochsignifikante Assoziation von GRCRs mit strukturellen 3D-Chromatinveränderungen identifiziert werden, die vor allem auf den kleinen Chromosomen (chr16–chr22) kolokalisieren. Wir fanden weiterhin Hinweise auf einen mechanistischen Zusammenhang zwischen Spleißprozessen und differenzieller Genexpression bei veränderter Schwerkraft. Somit haben wir erste Belege dafür gefunden, dass Änderungen der Schwerkraft in den Zellkern übertragen werden und dort 3D-Chromosomen-Konformationsänderungen hervorrufen, die mit einer schnellen Transkriptionsantwort verbunden sind. Wir vermuten, dass die schnelle genomische Antwort auf veränderte Gravitationskräfte in der Organisation des Chromatins spezifisch codiert ist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora S. Thiel
- Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation (UZH Space Hub), Universität Zürich, Schweiz
- Anatomisches Institut, Universität Zürich, Schweiz
- Raumfahrtmedizin, Fachbereich Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena
- Weltraumbiotechnologie, Fakultät für Maschinenbau, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
| | - Christian Vahlensieck
- Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation (UZH Space Hub), Universität Zürich, Schweiz
- Anatomisches Institut, Universität Zürich, Schweiz
| | - Oliver Ullrich
- Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation (UZH Space Hub), Universität Zürich, Schweiz
- Anatomisches Institut, Universität Zürich, Schweiz
- Raumfahrtmedizin, Fachbereich Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena
- Weltraumbiotechnologie, Fakultät für Maschinenbau, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
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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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