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Kravets VG, Clark TK. An experimentally informed computational model of neurovestibular adaptation to altered gravity. Exp Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38625533 DOI: 10.1113/ep091817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Transitions to altered gravity environments result in acute sensorimotor impairment for astronauts, leading to serious mission and safety risks in the crucial first moments in a new setting. Our understanding of the time course and severity of impairment in the early stages of adaptation remains limited and confounded by unmonitored head movements, which are likely to impact the rate of adaptation. Here, we aimed to address this gap by using a human centrifuge to simulate the first hour of hypergravity (1.5g) exposure and the subsequent 1g readaptation period, with precisely controlled head tilt activity. We quantified head tilt overestimation via subjective visual vertical and found ∼30% tilt overestimation that did not decrease over the course of 1 h of exposure to the simulated gravity environment. These findings extended the floor of the vestibular adaptation window (with controlled vestibular cueing) to 1 h of exposure to altered gravity. We then used the empirical data to inform a computational model of neurovestibular adaptation to changes in the magnitude of gravity, which can offer insight into the adaptation process and, with further tuning, can be used to predict the temporal dynamics of vestibular-mediated misperceptions in altered gravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria G Kravets
- Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Torin K Clark
- Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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Roumengous T, Boutwell RC, Strohmaier J, Allen J, Goldbach B, Marotta N, Songkakul T, Critcher S, Morse BG, Beer JMA, Sherman PM. Cerebral oxygenation and perfusion kinetics monitoring of military aircrew at high G using novel fNIRS wearable system. Front Neuroergon 2024; 5:1357905. [PMID: 38464394 PMCID: PMC10922194 DOI: 10.3389/fnrgo.2024.1357905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Real-time physiological episode (PE) detection and management in aircrew operating high-performance aircraft (HPA) is crucial for the US Military. This paper addresses the unique challenges posed by high acceleration (G-force) in HPA aircrew and explores the potential of a novel wearable functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system, named NIRSense Aerie, to continuously monitor cerebral oxygenation during high G-force exposure. Methods The NIRSense Aerie system is a flight-optimized, wearable fNIRS device designed to monitor tissue oxygenation 13-20 mm below the skin's surface. The system includes an optical frontend adhered to the forehead, an electronics module behind the earcup of aircrew helmets, and a custom adhesive for secure attachment. The fNIRS optical layout incorporates near-distance, middle-distance, and far-distance infrared emitters, a photodetector, and an accelerometer for motion measurements. Data processing involves the modified Beer-Lambert law for computing relative chromophore concentration changes. A human evaluation of the NIRSense Aerie was conducted on six subjects exposed to G-forces up to +9 Gz in an Aerospace Environmental Protection Laboratory centrifuge. fNIRS data, pulse oximetry, and electrocardiography (HR) were collected to analyze cerebral and superficial tissue oxygenation kinetics during G-loading and recovery. Results The NIRSense Aerie successfully captured cerebral deoxygenation responses during high G-force exposure, demonstrating its potential for continuous monitoring in challenging operational environments. Pulse oximetry was compromised during G-loading, emphasizing the system's advantage in uninterrupted cerebrovascular monitoring. Significant changes in oxygenation metrics were observed across G-loading levels, with distinct responses in Deoxy-Hb and Oxy-Hb concentrations. HR increased during G-loading, reflecting physiological stress and the anti-G straining maneuver. Discussion The NIRSense Aerie shows promise for real-time monitoring of aircrew physiological responses during high G-force exposure. Despite challenges, the system provides valuable insights into cerebral oxygenation kinetics. Future developments aim for miniaturization and optimization for enhanced aircrew comfort and wearability. This technology has potential for improving anti-G straining maneuver learning and retention through real-time cerebral oxygenation feedback during centrifuge training.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bria G. Morse
- Aerospace Environment Protection Lab, KBR Science and Space Government Solutions Group, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Jeremy M. A. Beer
- Aerospace Environment Protection Lab, KBR Science and Space Government Solutions Group, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Paul M. Sherman
- USAF 59th Medical Wing Science and Technology, San Antonio, TX, United States
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Wernlé K, Thiel CS, Ullrich O. Increased H3K9me3 and F-Actin Reorganization in the Rapid Adaptive Response to Hypergravity in Human T Lymphocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17232. [PMID: 38139061 PMCID: PMC10743231 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Our study explored the impact of hypergravity on human T cells, which experience additional acceleration forces beyond Earth's gravity due to various factors, such as pulsatile blood flow, and technology, such as high-performance aircraft flights or spaceflights. We investigated the histone modifications Histone 3 lysine 4 and 9 trimethylation (H3K4me3 and H3K9me3, respectively), as well as the structural and cytoskeletal organization of Jurkat T cells in response to hypergravity. Histone modifications play a crucial role in gene regulation, chromatin organization and DNA repair. In response to hypergravity, we found only minimal changes of H3K4me3 and a rapid increase in H3K9me3, which was sustained for up to 15 min and then returned to control levels after 1 h. Furthermore, rapid changes in F-actin fluorescence were observed within seconds of hypergravity exposure, indicating filament depolymerization and cytoskeletal restructuring, which subsequently recovered after 1 h of hypergravity. Our study demonstrated the rapid, dynamic and adaptive cellular response to hypergravity, particularly in terms of histone modifications and cytoskeletal changes. These responses are likely necessary for maintaining genome stability and structural integrity under hypergravity conditions as they are constantly occurring in the human body during blood cell circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra Wernlé
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Private University of the Principality of Liechtenstein (UFL), Dorfstrasse 24, 9495 Triesen, Liechtenstein
| | - Cora S. Thiel
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Institute of Machine Design, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
- Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL), Kennedy Space Center, 505 Odyssey Way, Exploration Park, Merritt Island, FL 32953, USA
- UZH Space Hub, Air Force Center, Air Base Dübendorf, Überlandstrasse 270, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Ullrich
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Institute of Machine Design, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
- Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL), Kennedy Space Center, 505 Odyssey Way, Exploration Park, Merritt Island, FL 32953, USA
- UZH Space Hub, Air Force Center, Air Base Dübendorf, Überlandstrasse 270, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule (EAH) Jena, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 2, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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Saunshi YB, David CG, Pushpadass HA, Emerald Franklin ME, Awachat VB, Kadakol VR. Characterization of withanolides and bacoside A-loaded proniosomes: effect on oxidative stress and survival under hypergravity in rodent model. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 2023; 49:748-758. [PMID: 38037324 DOI: 10.1080/03639045.2023.2286702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This work provides characterization of withanolides and bacoside A proniosomes, and evaluating their potency in rat model for combating oxidative stress-induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage and their survival under hypergravity. SIGNIFICANCE The delivery system was aimed for sustained drug release in plasma and brain, which could improve their efficiency and provide a therapeutic approach to combat oxidative damage and restore BBB integrity. METHODS Proniosomes were prepared using withanolides extracted from the roots of W. somnifera and bacoside A derived from the leaf extract of B. monnieri by thin film hydration technique. In vitro release of withanolides and bacoside A from the proniosomes was studied. In vivo experiments were conducted in Wistar Albino rat model to evaluate the efficacy of drug-loaded proniosomes in improving the antioxidant activity in plasma and brain, restoring BBB integrity and combating hypergravity conditions. RESULTS The withanolides and bacoside A-loaded proniosomes showed slow and sustained release of just 62.0 ± 2.87 and 62.9 ± 3.41%, respectively, in 9 h period against the release of 98-99% for the extracts that served as control. Trials conducted in vivo revealed a significant (p < .05) increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes in both plasma and brain. Also, minimal extravasation of Evans blue dye into the brain (15 ± 0.03 and 16 ± 0.03 ng/g in treated groups against 110 ± 0.01 ng/g in control) of the rats fed with drug-loaded proniosomes was indicative of minimal damage to BBB. Rats fed with drug-loaded proniosomes survived to the extent of 75-83.3% against simulated hypergravity as compared to the control group in which only 50% survived. CONCLUSION Proniosomes provided sustained release of drugs, which helped to protect BBB integrity, thereby combating hypergravity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Corbon Godfrey David
- Animal Physiology Division, ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru, India
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Xing C, Wang H, Zhu J, Zhang C, Li X. Impact of gravity on fluid flow and solute transport in the bone lacunar-canalicular system: a multiscale numerical simulation study. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37842849 DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2023.2270104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Different gravity fields have important effects on the structural morphology of bone. The fluid flow caused by loadings in the bone lacunar-canalicular system (LCS), converts mechanical signals into biological signals and regulates bone reconstruction by affecting effector cells, which ensures the efficient transport of signaling molecules, nutrients, and waste products. In this study, the fluid flow and mass transfer effects of bone lacunar-canalicular system at multi-scale were firstly investigated, and a three-dimensional axisymmetric fluid-solid coupled finite element model of the LCS within three continuous osteocytes was established. The changes in fluid pressure field, flow velocity field, and fluid shear force variation on the surface of osteocytes within the LCS were studied comparatively under different gravitational fields (0 G, 1 G, 5 G), frequencies (1 Hz, 1.5 Hz, 2 Hz) and forms of cyclic compressive loading. The results showed that different frequencies represented different exercise intensities, suggesting that high-intensity exercise may accelerate the fluid flow rate within the LCS and enhance osteocytes activity. Hypergravity enhanced the transport of solute molecules, nutrients, and signaling molecules within the LCS. Conversely, the mass transfer in the LCS may be inhibited under microgravity, which may cause bone loss and eventually lead to the onset of osteoporosis. This investigation provides theoretical guidance for rehabilitative training against osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Xing
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Advanced Mechatronic System Design and Intelligent Control, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Education, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Advanced Mechatronic System Design and Intelligent Control, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Education, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianzhong Zhu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Advanced Mechatronic System Design and Intelligent Control, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Education, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Chunqiu Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Advanced Mechatronic System Design and Intelligent Control, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Education, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuejin Li
- School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
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Kamkin AG, Mitrokhin VM, Kamkina OV, Kazansky VE, Bilichenko AS, Rodina AS, Zolotareva AD, Zolotarev VI, Sutyagin PV, Mladenov MI. Hypergravity Increases the Number of Gene Transcripts of Mechanically Gated and Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Rat Ventricular Cardiomyocytes. Bull Exp Biol Med 2023; 175:730-733. [PMID: 37979024 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-023-05955-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Since hypergravity changes the morphological and physiological properties of the heart, it was assumed that the expression of ion channels that respond to cell stretching or compressing, mechanically gated channels (MGC) and mechanosensitive channels (MSC), would be affected. Using RNA transcriptome sequencing, the change in the number of transcripts for MGC and MSC genes was studied in isolated rat ventricular cardiomyocytes under 4g hypergravity for 5 days. It was shown for the first time that hypergravity induces changes in the number of transcripts of MGC genes: an increase for TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPM7, TRPP1 (PKD1), TRPP2 (PKD2), TMEM63A, TMEM63B, but a decrease for TRPV2, Piezo1, Piezo2. The number of MSC gene transcripts increases: TREK-1, Kir6.2, Nav1.5, Cav1.2, Cav1.3, Kv7.1, and Kv1.2. This potentially leads to an increase in the expression of MGC and MSC proteins leading to an increase in the net current and, as a result, pathological changes in the heart function.
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Affiliation(s)
- A G Kamkin
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.
| | - V M Mitrokhin
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - O V Kamkina
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - V E Kazansky
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - A S Bilichenko
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - A S Rodina
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - A D Zolotareva
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - V I Zolotarev
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - P V Sutyagin
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - M I Mladenov
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
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Swanenburg J, Easthope CA, Meinke A, Langenfeld A, Green DA, Schweinhardt P. Lunar and mars gravity induce similar changes in spinal motor control as microgravity. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1196929. [PMID: 37565140 PMCID: PMC10411353 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1196929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Once more, plans are underway to send humans to the Moon or possibly even to Mars. It is therefore, important to know potential physiological effects of a prolonged stay in space and to minimize possible health risks to astronauts. It has been shown that spinal motor control strategies change during microgravity induced by parabolic flight. The way in which spinal motor control strategies change during partial microgravity, such as that encountered on the Moon and on Mars, is not known. Methods: Spinal motor control measurements were performed during Earth, lunar, Mars, and micro-gravity conditions and two hypergravity conditions of a parabola. Three proxy measures of spinal motor control were recorded: spinal stiffness of lumbar L3 vertebra using the impulse response, muscle activity of lumbar flexors and extensors using surface electromyography, and lumbar curvature using two curvature distance sensors placed at the upper and lower lumbar spine. The participants were six females and six males, with a mean age of 33 years (standard deviation: 7 years). Results: Gravity condition had a statistically significant (Friedmann tests) effect spinal stiffness (p < 0.001); on EMG measures (multifidus (p = 0.047), transversus abdominis (p < 0.001), and psoas (p < 0.001) muscles) and on upper lumbar curvature sensor (p < 0.001). No effect was found on the erector spinae muscle (p = 0.063) or lower curvature sensor (p = 0.170). Post hoc tests revealed a significant increase in stiffness under micro-, lunar-, and Martian gravity conditions (all p's < 0.034). Spinal stiffness decreased under both hypergravity conditions (all p's ≤ 0.012) and decreased during the second hypergravity compared to the first hypergravity condition (p = 0.012). Discussion: Micro-, lunar-, and Martian gravity conditions resulted in similar increases in spinal stiffness, a decrease in transversus abdominis muscle activity, with no change in psoas muscle activity and thus modulation of spinal motor stabilization strategy compared to those observed under Earth's gravity. These findings suggest that the spine is highly sensitive to gravity transitions but that Lunar and Martian gravity are below that required for normal modulation of spinal motor stabilization strategy and thus may be associated with LBP and/or IVD risk without the definition of countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaap Swanenburg
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Integrative Spinal Research ISR, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation (UZH Space Hub), Air Force Center, University of Zurich, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Christopher A. Easthope
- Cereneo—Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Vitznau, Switzerland
- Lake Lucerne Institute, Vitznau, Switzerland
| | - Anita Meinke
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Integrative Spinal Research ISR, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anke Langenfeld
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Integrative Spinal Research ISR, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David A. Green
- Centre of Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany
- KBRwyle GmbH, Cologne, Germany
| | - Petra Schweinhardt
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Integrative Spinal Research ISR, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
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Moser D, Biere K, Liemersdorf C, Tuschen M, Hemmersbach R, Choukér A. Differential effects of hypergravity on immune dysfunctions induced by simulated microgravity. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22910. [PMID: 37071448 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201781r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Microgravity (μg) is among the major stressors in space causing immune cell dysregulations. These are frequently expressed as increased pro-inflammatory states of monocytes and reduced activation capacities in T cells. Hypergravity (as artificial gravity) has shown to have beneficial effects on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system both as a countermeasure option for μg-related deconditioning and as "gravitational therapy" on Earth. Since the impact of hypergravity on immune cells is sparsely explored, we investigated if an application of "mild" mechanical loading of 2.8 g is able to avoid or treat μg-mediated immune dysregulations. For this, T cell and monocyte activation states and cytokine pattern were first analyzed after whole blood antigen incubation in simulated μg (s-μg) by using the principle of fast clinorotation or in hypergravity. Subsequent hypergravity countermeasure approaches were run at three different sequences: one preconditioning setting, where 2.8 g was applied before s-μg exposure and two therapeutic approaches in which 2.8 g was set either intermediately or at the end of s-μg. In single g-grade exposure experiments, monocyte pro-inflammatory state was enhanced in s-μg and reduced in hypergravity, whereas T cells displayed reduced activation when antigen incubation was performed in s-μg. Hypergravity application in all three sequences did not alleviate the increased pro-inflammatory potential of monocytes. However, in T cells the preconditioning approach restored antigen-induced CD69 expression and IFNγ secretion to 1 g control values and beyond. This in vitro study demonstrates a proof of concept that mild hypergravity is a gravitational preconditioning option to avoid adaptive immune cell dysfunctions induced by (s-)μg and that it may act as a booster of immune cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Moser
- Laboratory of Translational Research 'Stress and Immunity', Department of Anesthesiology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Biere
- Laboratory of Translational Research 'Stress and Immunity', Department of Anesthesiology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Liemersdorf
- Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Marina Tuschen
- Laboratory of Translational Research 'Stress and Immunity', Department of Anesthesiology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ruth Hemmersbach
- Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Choukér
- Laboratory of Translational Research 'Stress and Immunity', Department of Anesthesiology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany
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Dubayle D, Vanden-Bossche A, Peixoto T, Morel JL. Hypergravity Increases Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability to Fluorescent Dextran and Antisense Oligonucleotide in Mice. Cells 2023; 12:cells12050734. [PMID: 36899870 PMCID: PMC10000817 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The earliest effect of spaceflight is an alteration in vestibular function due to microgravity. Hypergravity exposure induced by centrifugation is also able to provoke motion sickness. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the crucial interface between the vascular system and the brain to ensure efficient neuronal activity. We developed experimental protocols of hypergravity on C57Bl/6JRJ mice to induce motion sickness and reveal its effects on the BBB. Mice were centrifuged at 2× g for 24 h. Fluorescent dextrans with different sizes (40, 70 and 150 kDa) and fluorescent antisense oligonucleotides (AS) were injected into mice retro-orbitally. The presence of fluorescent molecules was revealed by epifluorescence and confocal microscopies in brain slices. Gene expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR from brain extracts. Only the 70 kDa dextran and AS were detected in the parenchyma of several brain regions, suggesting an alteration in the BBB. Moreover, Ctnnd1, Gja4 and Actn1 were upregulated, whereas Jup, Tjp2, Gja1, Actn2, Actn4, Cdh2 and Ocln genes were downregulated, specifically suggesting a dysregulation in the tight junctions of endothelial cells forming the BBB. Our results confirm the alteration in the BBB after a short period of hypergravity exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Dubayle
- CNRS, INCC, UMR 8002, Université Paris Cité, F-75006 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (J.-L.M.)
| | - Arnaud Vanden-Bossche
- INSERM, SAINBIOSE U1059, Mines Saint-Etienne, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne, F-42023 Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Tom Peixoto
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Luc Morel
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (J.-L.M.)
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Abe C, Katayama C, Ohbayashi K, Horii K, Ogawa B, Fujimoto C, Iwasaki Y, Nin F, Morita H. Galvanic vestibular stimulation-induced activation of C1 neurons in medulla oblongata protects against acute lung injury. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2023; 324:R152-R160. [PMID: 36534584 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00131.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Autonomic nerves, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, control the immune system along with their physiological functions. On the peripheral side, the interaction between the splenic sympathetic nerves and immune cells is important for the anti-inflammatory effects. However, the central mechanism underlying these anti-inflammatory effects remains unclear. C1 neurons respond to stressors and subsequently determine the outflow of the autonomic nervous system. We have previously shown that C1 neurons protect against acute kidney injury and found a signaling connection between peripheral vestibular organs and C1 neurons. Thus, we hypothesized that hypergravity load or galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) might protect against acute lung injury. We showed that C1 neurons are histologically and functionally activated by stimulating the peripheral vestibular organs. Protection against acute lung injury that was induced by a 2 G load disappeared due to vestibular lesions or the deletion of C1 neurons. This GVS-induced protective effect was also eliminated by the deletion of the C1 neurons. Furthermore, GVS increased splenic sympathetic nerve activity in conscious mice, and splenic sympathetic denervation abolished the GVS-induced protection against acute lung injury. Therefore, the activated pathway between C1 neurons and splenic sympathetic nerves is indispensable for GVS-induced protection against acute lung injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chikara Abe
- Department of Physiology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.,Preemptive Food Research Center (PFRC), Gifu University Institute for Advanced Study, Gifu, Japan
| | - Chikako Katayama
- Department of Physiology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kento Ohbayashi
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Horii
- Department of Physiology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Bakushi Ogawa
- Department of Physiology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Chisato Fujimoto
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yusaku Iwasaki
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Nin
- Department of Physiology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hironobu Morita
- Department of Physiology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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12
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Krzek M, Stroobants S, Gelin P, De Malsche W, Maes D. Influence of Centrifugation and Shaking on the Self-Assembly of Lysozyme Fibrils. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121746. [PMID: 36551175 PMCID: PMC9775142 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein self-assembly into fibrils and oligomers plays a key role in the etiology of degenerative diseases. Several pathways for this self-assembly process have been described and shown to result in different types and ratios of final assemblies, therewith defining the effective physiological response. Known factors that influence assembly pathways are chemical conditions and the presence or lack of agitation. However, in natural and industrial systems, proteins are exposed to a sequence of different and often complex mass transfers. In this paper, we compare the effect of two fundamentally different mass transfer processes on the fibrilization process. Aggregation-prone solutions of hen egg white lysozyme were subjected to predominantly non-advective mass transfer by employing centrifugation and to advective mass transport represented by orbital shaking. In both cases, fibrilization was triggered, while in quiescent only oligomers were formed. The fibrils obtained by shaking compared to fibrils obtained through centrifugation were shorter, thicker, and more rigid. They had rod-like protofibrils as building blocks and a significantly higher β-sheet content was observed. In contrast, fibrils from centrifugation were more flexible and braided. They consisted of intertwined filaments and had low β-sheet content at the expense of random coil. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evidence of a fibrilization pathway selectivity, with the fibrilization route determined by the mass transfer and mixing configuration (shaking versus centrifugation). This selectivity can be potentially employed for directed protein fibrilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzena Krzek
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sander Stroobants
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Gelin
- μFlow Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wim De Malsche
- μFlow Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dominique Maes
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Correspondence:
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13
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Denise P, Harris LR, Clément G. Editorial: Role of the vestibular system in the perception of time and space. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 16:1067425. [PMID: 36440179 PMCID: PMC9686397 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2022.1067425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Denise
- INSERM and University of Caen Normandy, Caen, France
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14
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Abstract
The exploration of deep space or other bodies of the solar system, associated with a long stay in microgravity or altered gravity, requires the development of fundamentally new methods of protecting the human body. Most of the negative changes in micro- or hypergravity occur at the cellular level; however, the mechanism of reception of the altered gravity and transduction of this signal, leading to the formation of an adaptive pattern of the cell, is still poorly understood. At the same time, most of the negative changes that occur in early embryos when the force of gravity changes almost disappear by the time the new organism is born. This review is devoted to the responses of early embryos and stem cells, as well as terminally differentiated germ cells, to changes in gravity. An attempt was made to generalize the data presented in the literature and propose a possible unified mechanism for the reception by a single cell of an increase and decrease in gravity based on various deformations of the cortical cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina V Ogneva
- Cell Biophysics Laboratory, State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 76a, Khoroshevskoyoe Shosse, 123007 Moscow, Russia
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15
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Hattori T, Soga K, Wakabayashi K, Hoson T. An Arabidopsis PTH2 Gene Is Responsible for Gravity Resistance Supporting Plant Growth under Different Gravity Conditions. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12101603. [PMID: 36295039 PMCID: PMC9605376 DOI: 10.3390/life12101603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Terrestrial plants respond to and resist gravitational force. The response is termed “gravity resistance”, and centrifugal hypergravity conditions are efficient for investigating its nature and mechanism. A functional screening of Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion lines for the suppression rate of elongation growth of hypocotyls under hypergravity conditions was performed in this study to identify the genes required for gravity resistance. As a result, we identified PEPTIDYL-tRNA HYDROLASE II (PTH2). In the wild type, elongation growth was suppressed by hypergravity, but this did not happen in the pth2 mutant. Lateral growth, dynamics of cortical microtubules, mechanical properties of cell walls, or cell wall thickness were also not affected by hypergravity in the pth2 mutant. In other words, the pth2 mutant did not show any significant hypergravity responses. However, the gravitropic curvature of hypocotyls of the pth2 mutant was almost equal to that of the wild type, indicating that the PTH2 gene is not required for gravitropism. It is suggested by these results that PTH2 is responsible for the critical processes of gravity resistance in Arabidopsis hypocotyls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Hattori
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
| | - Kouichi Soga
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (T.H.)
| | - Kazuyuki Wakabayashi
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
| | - Takayuki Hoson
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (T.H.)
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16
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Lichterfeld Y, Kalinski L, Schunk S, Schmakeit T, Feles S, Frett T, Herrmann H, Hemmersbach R, Liemersdorf C. Hypergravity Attenuates Reactivity in Primary Murine Astrocytes. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081966. [PMID: 36009513 PMCID: PMC9405820 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal activity is the key modulator of nearly every aspect of behavior, affecting cognition, learning, and memory as well as motion. Hence, disturbances of the transmission of synaptic signals are the main cause of many neurological disorders. Lesions to nervous tissues are associated with phenotypic changes mediated by astrocytes becoming reactive. Reactive astrocytes form the basis of astrogliosis and glial scar formation. Astrocyte reactivity is often targeted to inhibit axon dystrophy and thus promote neuronal regeneration. Here, we aim to understand the impact of gravitational loading induced by hypergravity to potentially modify key features of astrocyte reactivity. We exposed primary murine astrocytes as a model system closely resembling the in vivo reactivity phenotype on custom-built centrifuges for cultivation as well as for live-cell imaging under hypergravity conditions in a physiological range (2g and 10g). We revealed spreading rates, migration velocities, and stellation to be diminished under 2g hypergravity. In contrast, proliferation and apoptosis rates were not affected. In particular, hypergravity attenuated reactivity induction. We observed cytoskeletal remodeling of actin filaments and microtubules under hypergravity. Hence, the reorganization of these key elements of cell structure demonstrates that fundamental mechanisms on shape and mobility of astrocytes are affected due to altered gravity conditions. In future experiments, potential target molecules for pharmacological interventions that attenuate astrocytic reactivity will be investigated. The ultimate goal is to enhance neuronal regeneration for novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Lichterfeld
- Department of Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Laura Kalinski
- Department of Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Sarah Schunk
- Department of Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Theresa Schmakeit
- Department of Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Sebastian Feles
- Department of Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Timo Frett
- Department of Muscle and Bone Metabolism, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Harald Herrmann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ruth Hemmersbach
- Department of Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Christian Liemersdorf
- Department of Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-176-811-09-333
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17
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Schulz H, Dietrichs D, Wehland M, Corydon TJ, Hemmersbach R, Liemersdorf C, Melnik D, Hübner N, Saar K, Infanger M, Grimm D. In Prostate Cancer Cells Cytokines Are Early Responders to Gravitational Changes Occurring in Parabolic Flights. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:7876. [PMID: 35887223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The high mortality in men with metastatic prostate cancer (PC) establishes the need for diagnostic optimization by new biomarkers. Mindful of the effect of real microgravity on metabolic pathways of carcinogenesis, we attended a parabolic flight (PF) mission to perform an experiment with the PC cell line PC-3, and submitted the resulting RNA to next generation sequencing (NGS) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). After the first parabola, alterations of the F-actin cytoskeleton-like stress fibers and pseudopodia are visible. Moreover, numerous significant transcriptional changes are evident. We were able to identify a network of relevant PC cytokines and chemokines showing differential expression due to gravitational changes, particularly during the early flight phases. Together with differentially expressed regulatory lncRNAs and micro RNAs, we present a portfolio of 298 potential biomarkers. Via qPCR we identified IL6 and PIK3CB to be sensitive to vibration effects and hypergravity, respectively. Per NGS we detected five upregulated cytokines (CCL2, CXCL1, IL6, CXCL2, CCL20), one zink finger protein (TNFAIP3) and one glycoprotein (ICAM1) related to c-REL signaling and thus relevant for carcinogenesis as well as inflammatory aspects. We found regulated miR-221 and the co-localized lncRNA MIR222HG induced by PF maneuvers. miR-221 is related to the PC-3 growth rate and MIR222HG is a known risk factor for glioma susceptibility. These findings in real microgravity may further improve our understanding of PC and contribute to the development of new diagnostic tools.
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18
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Simon Á, Tozar T, Smarandache A, Boni M, Stoicu A, Dowson A, van Loon JJWA, Pascu ML. Stability Studies of UV Laser Irradiated Promethazine and Thioridazine after Exposure to Hypergravity Conditions. Molecules 2022; 27:1728. [PMID: 35268828 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27051728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals carried into space are subjected to different gravitational conditions. Hypergravity is encountered in the first stage, during spacecraft launching. The stability of medicines represents a critical element of space missions, especially long-duration ones. Therefore, stability studies should be envisaged before the implementation of drugs for future deep space travel, where the available pharmaceuticals would be limited and restocking from Earth would be impossible. Multipurpose drugs should be proposed for this reason, such as phenothiazine derivatives that can be transformed by optical methods into antimicrobial agents. Within this preliminary study, promethazine and thioridazine aqueous solutions were exposed to UV laser radiation that modified their structures and generated a mixture of photoproducts efficient against particular bacteria. Subsequently, they were subjected to 20 g in the European Space Agency's Large Diameter Centrifuge. The aim was to evaluate the impact of hypergravity on the physico-chemical and spectral properties of unirradiated and laser-irradiated medicine solutions through pH assay, UV-Vis/FTIR absorption spectroscopy, and thin-layer chromatography. The results revealed no substantial alterations in centrifuged samples when compared to uncentrifuged ones. Due to their stability after high-g episodes, laser-exposed phenothiazines could be considered for future space missions.
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19
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McGregor HR, Hupfeld KE, Pasternak O, Wood SJ, Mulavara AP, Bloomberg JJ, Hague TN, Seidler RD. Case Report: No Evidence of Intracranial Fluid Shifts in an Astronaut Following an Aborted Launch. Front Neurol 2021; 12:774805. [PMID: 34956056 PMCID: PMC8695608 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.774805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight induces lasting enlargement of the brain's ventricles as well as intracranial fluid shifts. These intracranial fluid shifts have been attributed to prolonged microgravity exposure, however, the potential effects of hypergravity exposure during launch and landing have yet to be elucidated. Here we describe a case report of a Crewmember who experienced an Aborted Launch (“CAL”). CAL's launch and landing experience was dissociated from prolonged microgravity exposure. Using MRI, we show that hypergravity exposure during the aborted launch did not induce lasting ventricular enlargement or intracranial fluid shifts resembling those previously reported with spaceflight. This case study therefore rules out hypergravity during launch and landing as a contributing factor to previously reported long-lasting intracranial fluid changes following spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather R McGregor
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Kathleen E Hupfeld
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Ofer Pasternak
- Department of Psychiatry and Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Scott J Wood
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | | | - T Nick Hague
- NASA Astronaut Corps, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Rachael D Seidler
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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20
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Jamšek M, Kunavar T, Blohm G, Nozaki D, Papaxanthis C, White O, Babič J. Effects of Simulated Microgravity and Hypergravity Conditions on Arm Movements in Normogravity. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:750176. [PMID: 34970122 PMCID: PMC8712641 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.750176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The human sensorimotor control has evolved in the Earth's environment where all movement is influenced by the gravitational force. Changes in this environmental force can severely impact the performance of arm movements which can be detrimental in completing certain tasks such as piloting or controlling complex vehicles. For this reason, subjects that are required to perform such tasks undergo extensive training procedures in order to minimize the chances of failure. We investigated whether local gravity simulation of altered gravitational conditions on the arm would lead to changes in kinematic parameters comparable to the full-body experience of microgravity and hypergravity onboard a parabolic flight. To see if this would be a feasible approach for on-ground training of arm reaching movements in altered gravity conditions we developed a robotic device that was able to apply forces at the wrist in order to simulate micro- or hypergravity conditions for the arm while subjects performed pointing movements on a touch screen. We analyzed and compared the results of several kinematic parameters along with muscle activity using this system with data of the same subjects being fully exposed to microgravity and hypergravity conditions on a parabolic flight. Both in our simulation and in-flight, we observed a significant increase in movement durations in microgravity conditions and increased velocities in hypergravity for upward movements. Additionally, we noted a reduced accuracy of pointing both in-flight and in our simulation. These promising results suggest, that locally simulated altered gravity can elicit similar changes in some movement characteristics for arm reaching movements. This could potentially be exploited as a means of developing devices such as exoskeletons to aid in training individuals prior to undertaking tasks in changed gravitational conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Jamšek
- Laboratory for Neuromechanics and Biorobotics, Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Automatics, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tjaša Kunavar
- Laboratory for Neuromechanics and Biorobotics, Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Automatics, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gunnar Blohm
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Daichi Nozaki
- Division of Physical and Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Charalambos Papaxanthis
- INSERM UMR1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
| | - Olivier White
- INSERM UMR1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
| | - Jan Babič
- Laboratory for Neuromechanics and Biorobotics, Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Automatics, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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21
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Kunavar T, Jamšek M, Barbiero M, Blohm G, Nozaki D, Papaxanthis C, White O, Babič J. Effects of Local Gravity Compensation on Motor Control During Altered Environmental Gravity. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:750267. [PMID: 34744639 PMCID: PMC8568321 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.750267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Our sensorimotor control is well adapted to normogravity environment encountered on Earth and any change in gravity significantly disturbs our movement. In order to produce appropriate motor commands for aimed arm movements such as pointing or reaching, environmental changes have to be taken into account. This adaptation is crucial when performing successful movements during microgravity and hypergravity conditions. To mitigate the effects of changing gravitational levels, such as the changed movement duration and decreased accuracy, we explored the possible beneficial effects of gravity compensation on movement. Local gravity compensation was achieved using a motorized robotic device capable of applying precise forces to the subject’s wrist that generated a normogravity equivalent torque at the shoulder joint during periods of microgravity and hypergravity. The efficiency of the local gravity compensation was assessed with an experiment in which participants performed a series of pointing movements toward the target on a screen during a parabolic flight. We compared movement duration, accuracy, movement trajectory, and muscle activations of movements during periods of microgravity and hypergravity with conditions when local gravity compensation was provided. The use of local gravity compensation at the arm mitigated the changes in movement duration, accuracy, and muscle activity. Our results suggest that the use of such an assistive device helps with movements during unfamiliar environmental gravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjasa Kunavar
- Laboratory for Neuromechanics and Biorobotics, Department of Automatics, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marko Jamšek
- Laboratory for Neuromechanics and Biorobotics, Department of Automatics, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marie Barbiero
- INSERM UMR1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France.,Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, Paris, France
| | - Gunnar Blohm
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Daichi Nozaki
- Division of Physical and Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Charalambos Papaxanthis
- INSERM UMR1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
| | - Olivier White
- INSERM UMR1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
| | - Jan Babič
- Laboratory for Neuromechanics and Biorobotics, Department of Automatics, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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22
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Salvetti A, Degl'Innocenti A, Gambino G, van Loon JJ, Ippolito C, Ghelardoni S, Ghigo E, Leoncino L, Prato M, Rossi L, Ciofani G. Artificially altered gravity elicits cell homeostasis imbalance in planarian worms, and cerium oxide nanoparticles counteract this effect. J Biomed Mater Res A 2021; 109:2322-2333. [PMID: 33960131 PMCID: PMC8518838 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Gravity alterations elicit complex and mostly detrimental effects on biological systems. Among these, a prominent role is occupied by oxidative stress, with consequences for tissue homeostasis and development. Studies in altered gravity are relevant for both Earth and space biomedicine, but their implementation using whole organisms is often troublesome. Here we utilize planarians, simple worm model for stem cell and regeneration biology, to characterize the pathogenic mechanisms brought by artificial gravity alterations. In particular, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of molecular responses in intact and regenerating specimens, and demonstrate a protective action from the space-apt for nanotechnological antioxidant cerium oxide nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Salvetti
- Università di Pisa, Department of Clinical and Experimental MedicineBiology and Genetics unitPisaItaly
| | - Andrea Degl'Innocenti
- Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaCenter for Materials Interfaces, Smart Bio‐InterfacesPisaItaly
| | - Gaetana Gambino
- Università di Pisa, Department of Clinical and Experimental MedicineBiology and Genetics unitPisaItaly
| | - Jack J.W.A. van Loon
- Dutch Experiment Support Center (DESC), Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Oral PathologyAmsterdam UMC location VU University Medical Center & Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA)AmsterdamThe Netherlands
- TEC‐MMG LIS labEuropean Space Agency (ESA), European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC)NoordwijkThe Netherlands
| | - Chiara Ippolito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Biology and Genetics UnitUniversità di PisaPisaItaly
| | - Sandra Ghelardoni
- Department of Pathology, Biochemistry UnitUniversità di PisaPisaItaly
| | - Eric Ghigo
- Institut Hospitalo‐Universitaire Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
- Techno JouvenceMarseilleFrance
| | - Luca Leoncino
- Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaElectron Microscopy FacilityGenoaItaly
| | - Mirko Prato
- Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaMaterials Characterization FacilityGenoaItaly
| | - Leonardo Rossi
- Università di Pisa, Department of Clinical and Experimental MedicineBiology and Genetics unitPisaItaly
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaCenter for Materials Interfaces, Smart Bio‐InterfacesPisaItaly
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23
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Vahlensieck C, Thiel CS, Adelmann J, Lauber BA, Polzer J, Ullrich O. 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; 22:8451. [PMID: 34445156 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [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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24
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Adamopoulos K, Koutsouris D, Zaravinos A, Lambrou GI. Gravitational Influence on Human Living Systems and the Evolution of Species on Earth. Molecules 2021; 26:2784. [PMID: 34066886 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [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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25
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Wu HM, Lee SG, Oh CS, Kim SG. Hypergravity Load Modulates Acetaminophen Nephrotoxicity via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Association with Hepatic microRNA-122 Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4901. [PMID: 34063126 PMCID: PMC8124210 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypergravity conditions may subject the kidney to intrinsic stress and lead to hemodynamic kidney dysfunction. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. Accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (i.e., ER stress) is often observed in kidney diseases. Therefore, this study investigated whether hypergravity stress alters acetaminophen-induced renal toxicity in vivo, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in this process. C57BL/6 mice were submitted to one or three loads of +9 Gx hypergravity for 1 h with or without acetaminophen (APAP) treatment. The protein levels of cell survival markers, including pAKT and pCREB, were decreased in the kidney after acetaminophen treatment with a single hypergravity load. Additionally, the combined treatment increased kidney injury markers, serum creatinine, and Bax, Bcl2, and Kim-1 transcript levels and enhanced ER stress-related markers were further. Moreover, multiple hypergravity loads enabled mice to overcome kidney injury, as indicated by decreases in serum creatinine content and ER stress marker levels, along with increased cell viability indices. Similarly, multiple hypergravity loads plus APAP elevated miR-122 levels in the kidney, which likely originated from the liver, as the levels of primary miR-122 increased only in the liver and not the kidney. Importantly, this phenomenon may contribute to overcoming hypergravity-induced kidney injury. Taken together, our results demonstrate that APAP-exposed mice submitted to a single load of hypergravity exhibited more pronounced kidney dysfunction due to increased ER stress, which may be overcome by repetitive hypergravity loads presumably due to increased production of miR-122 in the liver. Thus, our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms by which hypergravity stress plus APAP medication induce kidney injury, which may be overcome by repeated hypergravity exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Min Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (H.-M.W.); (S.-G.L.)
| | - Sang-Gil Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (H.-M.W.); (S.-G.L.)
| | - Choong-Sik Oh
- Aerospace Medical Center, ROKAF, Cheong-ju 360-842, Korea;
| | - Sang-Geon Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-Do 10326, Korea
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26
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Simon Á, Smarandache A, Iancu V, Pascu ML. Stability of Antimicrobial Drug Molecules in Different Gravitational and Radiation Conditions in View of Applications during Outer Space Missions. Molecules 2021; 26:2221. [PMID: 33921448 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of different antimicrobial drugs in terrestrial, microgravity and hypergravity conditions is presented within this review, in connection with their implementation during human space exploration. Drug stability is of utmost importance for applications in outer space. Instabilities may be radiation-induced or micro-/hypergravity produced. The antimicrobial agents used in space may have diminished effects not only due to the microgravity-induced weakened immune response of astronauts, but also due to the gravity and radiation-altered pathogens. In this context, the paper provides schemes and procedures to find reliable ways of fighting multiple drug resistance acquired by microorganisms. It shows that the role of multipurpose medicines modified at the molecular scale by optical methods in long-term space missions should be considered in more detail. Solutions to maintain drug stability, even in extreme environmental conditions, are also discussed, such as those that would be encountered during long-duration space exploratory missions. While the microgravity conditions may not be avoided in space, the suggested approaches deal with the radiation-induced modifications in humans, bacteria and medicines onboard, which may be fought by novel pharmaceutical formulation strategies along with radioprotective packaging and storage.
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27
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Yu K, Yuan T, Zhang S, Bao C. Hypergravity-Induced Accumulation: A New, Efficient, and Simple Strategy to Improve the Thermal Conductivity of Boron Nitride Filled Polymer Composites. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:459. [PMID: 33572667 PMCID: PMC7866976 DOI: 10.3390/polym13030459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermal conductive polymer composites (filled type) consisting of thermal conductive fillers and a polymer matrix have been widely used in a range of areas. More than 10 strategies have been developed to improve the thermal conductivity of polymer composites. Here we report a new "hypergravity accumulation" strategy. Raw material mixtures of boron nitride/silicone rubber composites were treated in hypergravity fields (800-20,000 g, relative gravity acceleration) before heat-curing. A series of comparison studies were made. It was found that hypergravity treatments could efficiently improve the microstructures and thermal conductivity of the composites. When the hypergravity was about 20,000 g (relative gravity acceleration), the obtained spherical boron nitride/silicone rubber composites had highly compacted microstructures and high and isotropic thermal conductivity. The highest thermal conductivity reached 4.0 W/mK. Thermal interface application study showed that the composites could help to decrease the temperature on a light-emitting diode (LED) chip by 5 °C. The mechanism of the improved microstructure increased thermal conductivity, and the high viscosity problem in the preparation of boron nitride/silicone rubber composites, and the advantages and disadvantages of the hypergravity accumulation strategy, were discussed. Overall, this work has provided a new, efficient, and simple strategy to improve the thermal conductivity of boron nitride/silicone rubber and other polymer composites (filled type).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Yu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, 399 Binshui West Road, Tianjin 300387, China; (K.Y.); (T.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Tao Yuan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, 399 Binshui West Road, Tianjin 300387, China; (K.Y.); (T.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Songdi Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, 399 Binshui West Road, Tianjin 300387, China; (K.Y.); (T.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Chenlu Bao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, 399 Binshui West Road, Tianjin 300387, China; (K.Y.); (T.Y.); (S.Z.)
- Tianjin HaiTe Thermal Management Technology Co., Ltd., 6 Huake 8 Road, Tianjin 300450, China
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28
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Tu MY, Chu H, Chen HH, Chiang KT, Hu JM, Li FL, Yang CS, Cheng CC, Lai CY. Roles of Physiological Responses and Anthropometric Factors on the Gravitational Force Tolerance for Occupational Hypergravity Exposure. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17218061. [PMID: 33147694 PMCID: PMC7663089 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Gravity in the head-to-toe direction, known as +Gz (G force), forces blood to pool in the lower body. Fighter pilots experience decreases in blood pressure when exposed to hypergravity in flight. Human centrifuge has been used to examine the G tolerance and anti-G straining maneuver (AGSM) techniques of military pilots. Some factors that may affect G tolerance have been reported but are still debated. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological responses and anthropometric factors correlated with G tolerance. We retrospectively reviewed the training records of student pilots who underwent high G training. Variables were collected to examine their correlations with the outcome of 7.5G sustained for 15 s (7.5G profile). There were 873 trainees who underwent 7.5G profile training, 44 trainees (5.04%) could not sustain the test for 15 s. The group with a small heart rate (HR) increase (less than 10%) during the first 1–5 s of the 7.5G profile had a nearly ten-fold higher failing chance compared with the large HR increase group (adjusted odds ratio: 9.91; 95% confidence interval: 4.11–23.88). The chances of failure were inversely related to the HR increase percentage (p for trend <0.001). Factors, including body mass index, relaxed and straining G tolerance, and AGSM, were found to be negatively correlated with the outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Yu Tu
- Aviation Physiology Research Laboratory, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital Gangshan Branch, Kaohsiung City 820, Taiwan; (M.-Y.T.); (K.-T.C.); (C.-S.Y.); (C.-C.C.)
- Department of Health Business Administration, Meiho University, Pingtung County 912, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences and PhD Program in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
- Institute of Medical Science and Technology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung City 804, Taiwan
| | - Hsin Chu
- Civil Aviation Medical Center, Taipei City 105, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Aerospace and Undersea Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Hui Chen
- Department of General Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114, Taiwan;
| | - Kwo-Tsao Chiang
- Aviation Physiology Research Laboratory, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital Gangshan Branch, Kaohsiung City 820, Taiwan; (M.-Y.T.); (K.-T.C.); (C.-S.Y.); (C.-C.C.)
- Institute of Medical Science and Technology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung City 804, Taiwan
| | - Je-Ming Hu
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Ling Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital Beitou Branch, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114, Taiwan;
| | - Chen-Shu Yang
- Aviation Physiology Research Laboratory, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital Gangshan Branch, Kaohsiung City 820, Taiwan; (M.-Y.T.); (K.-T.C.); (C.-S.Y.); (C.-C.C.)
| | - Chao-Chien Cheng
- Aviation Physiology Research Laboratory, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital Gangshan Branch, Kaohsiung City 820, Taiwan; (M.-Y.T.); (K.-T.C.); (C.-S.Y.); (C.-C.C.)
| | - Chung-Yu Lai
- Graduate Institute of Aerospace and Undersea Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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29
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Swanenburg J, Langenfeld A, Easthope CA, Meier ML, Ullrich O, Schweinhardt P. Microgravity and Hypergravity Induced by Parabolic Flight Differently Affect Lumbar Spinal Stiffness. Front Physiol 2020; 11:562557. [PMID: 32982803 PMCID: PMC7492749 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.562557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the response of the lumbar spinal motor control in different gravitational conditions. This was accomplished by measuring indicators of lumbar motor control, specifically lumbar spinal stiffness, activity of lumbar extensor and flexor muscles and lumbar curvature, in hypergravity and microgravity during parabolic flights. Three female and five male subjects participated in this study. The mean age was 35.5 years (standard deviation: 8.5 years). Spinal stiffness of the L3 vertebra was measured using impulse response; activity of the erector spinae, multifidi, transversus abdominis, and psoas muscles was recorded using surface electromyography; and lumbar curvature was measured using distance sensors mounted on the back-plate of a full-body harness. An effect of gravity condition on spinal stiffness, activity of all muscles assessed and lumbar curvature (p’s < 0.007) was observed (Friedman tests). Post hoc analysis showed a significant reduction in stiffness during hypergravity (p < 0.001) and an increase in stiffness during microgravity (p < 0.001). Activity in all muscles significantly increased during hypergravity (p’s < 0.001). During microgravity, the multifidi (p < 0.002) and transversus abdominis (p < 0.001) increased significantly in muscle activity while no significant difference was found for the psoas (p = 0.850) and erector spinae muscles (p = 0.813). Lumbar curvature flattened in hypergravity as well as microgravity, albeit in different ways: during hypergravity, the distance to the skin decreased for the upper (p = 0.016) and the lower sensor (p = 0.036). During microgravity, the upper sensor showed a significant increase (p = 0.016), and the lower showed a decrease (p = 0.005) in distance. This study emphasizes the role of spinal motor control adaptations in changing gravity conditions. Both hypergravity and microgravity lead to changes in spinal motor control. The decrease in spinal stiffness during hypergravity is interpreted as a shift of the axial load from the spine to the pelvis and thoracic cage. In microgravity, activity of the multifidi and of the psoas muscles seems to ensure the integrity of the spine. Swiss (BASEC-NR: 2018-00051)/French “EST-III” (Nr-ID-RCB: 2018-A011294-51/Nr-CPP: 18.06.09).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaap Swanenburg
- Integrative Spinal Research ISR, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anke Langenfeld
- Integrative Spinal Research ISR, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Michael L Meier
- Integrative Spinal Research ISR, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Ullrich
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Machine Design, Engineering Design and Product Development, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Space Medicine, Department of Industrial Engineering, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena, Jena, Germany.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Schweinhardt
- Integrative Spinal Research ISR, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
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30
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Ogneva IV, Usik MA, Biryukov NS, Zhdankina YS. Sperm Motility of Mice under Simulated Microgravity and Hypergravity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5054. [PMID: 32709012 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21145054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
For deep space exploration, reproductive health must be maintained to preserve the species. However, the mechanisms underlying the effect of changes in gravity on male germ cells remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of simulated micro- and hypergravity on mouse sperm motility and the mechanisms of this change. For 1, 3 and 6 h, mouse sperm samples isolated from the caudal epididymis were subjected to simulated microgravity using a random position machine and 2g hypergravity using a centrifuge. The experimental samples were compared with static and dynamic controls. The sperm motility and the percentage of motile sperm were determined using microscopy and video analysis, cell respiration was determined by polarography, the protein content was assessed by Western blotting and the mRNA levels were determined using qRT-PCR. The results indicated that hypergravity conditions led to more significant changes than simulated microgravity conditions: after 1 h, the speed of sperm movement decreased, and after 3 h, the number of motile cells began to decrease. Under the microgravity model, the speed of movement did not change, but the motile spermatozoa decreased after 6 h of exposure. These changes are likely associated with a change in the structure of the microtubule cytoskeleton, and changes in the energy supply are an adaptive reaction to changes in sperm motility.
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31
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Hattori T, Otomi Y, Nakajima Y, Soga K, Wakabayashi K, Iida H, Hoson T. MCA1 and MCA2 Are Involved in the Response to Hypergravity in Arabidopsis Hypocotyls. Plants (Basel) 2020; 9:E590. [PMID: 32380659 DOI: 10.3390/plants9050590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Plants respond to and resist gravitational acceleration, but the mechanism of signal perception in the response is unknown. We studied the role of MCA (mid1-complementing activity) proteins in gravity perception by analyzing the expression of the MCA1 and MCA2 genes, and the growth of hypocotyls of mca mutants, under hypergravity conditions in the dark. An MCA1 promoter::GUS fusion reporter gene construct (MCA1p::GUS) and MCA2p::GUS were expressed almost universally in etiolated seedlings. Under hypergravity conditions, the expression levels of both genes increased compared with that under the 1 g condition, and remained higher, especially in the basal supporting region. On the other hand, mca-null and MCA-overexpressing seedlings showed normal growth under the 1 g condition. Hypergravity suppressed elongation growth of hypocotyls, but this effect was reduced in hypocotyls of mca-null mutants compared with the wild type. In contrast, MCA-overexpressing seedlings were hypersensitive to increased gravity; suppression of elongation growth was detected at a lower gravity level than that in the wild type. These results suggest that MCAs are involved in the perception of gravity signals in plants, and may be responsible for resistance to hypergravity.
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32
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De Cesari C, Barravecchia I, Pyankova OV, Vezza M, Germani MM, Scebba F, van Loon JJWA, Angeloni D. Hypergravity Activates a Pro-Angiogenic Homeostatic Response by Human Capillary Endothelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:2354. [PMID: 32231163 PMCID: PMC7177524 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Capillary endothelial cells are responsible for homeostatic responses to organismic and environmental stimulations. When malfunctioning, they may cause disease. Exposure to microgravity is known to have negative effects on astronauts’ physiology, the endothelium being a particularly sensitive organ. Microgravity-related dysfunctions are striking similar to the consequences of sedentary life, bed rest, and ageing on Earth. Among different countermeasures implemented to minimize the effects of microgravity, a promising one is artificial gravity. We examined the effects of hypergravity on human microvascular endothelial cells of dermal capillary origin (HMEC-1) treated at 4 g for 15 min, and at 20 g for 15 min, 3 and 6 h. We evaluated cell morphology, gene expression and 2D motility and function. We found a profound rearrangement of the cytoskeleton network, dose-dependent increase of Focal Adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation and Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) expression, suggesting cell stiffening and increased proneness to motility. Transcriptome analysis showed expression changes of genes associated with cardiovascular homeostasis, nitric oxide production, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Hypergravity-treated cells also showed significantly improved motility and function (2D migration and tube formation). These results, expanding our knowledge about the homeostatic response of capillary endothelial cells, show that adaptation to hypergravity has opposite effect compared to microgravity on the same cell type.
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33
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Liu C, Zhong G, Zhou Y, Yang Y, Tan Y, Li Y, Gao X, Sun W, Li J, Jin X, Cao D, Yuan X, Liu Z, Liang S, Li Y, Du R, Zhao Y, Xue J, Zhao D, Song J, Ling S, Li Y. Alteration of calcium signalling in cardiomyocyte induced by simulated microgravity and hypergravity. Cell Prolif 2020; 53:e12783. [PMID: 32101357 PMCID: PMC7106961 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Cardiac Ca2+ signalling plays an essential role in regulating excitation‐contraction coupling and cardiac remodelling. However, the response of cardiomyocytes to simulated microgravity and hypergravity and the effects on Ca2+ signalling remain unknown. Here, we elucidate the mechanisms underlying the proliferation and remodelling of HL‐1 cardiomyocytes subjected to rotation‐simulated microgravity and 4G hypergravity. Materials and Methods The cardiomyocyte cell line HL‐1 was used in this study. A clinostat and centrifuge were used to study the effects of microgravity and hypergravity, respectively, on cells. Calcium signalling was detected with laser scanning confocal microscopy. Protein and mRNA levels were detected by Western blotting and real‐time PCR, respectively. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining was used to analyse cell size. Results Our data showed that spontaneous calcium oscillations and cytosolic calcium concentration are both increased in HL‐1 cells after simulated microgravity and 4G hypergravity. Increased cytosolic calcium leads to activation of calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II/histone deacetylase 4 (CaMKII/HDAC4) signalling and upregulation of the foetal genes ANP and BNP, indicating cardiac remodelling. WGA staining indicated that cell size was decreased following rotation‐simulated microgravity and increased following 4G hypergravity. Moreover, HL‐1 cell proliferation was increased significantly under hypergravity but not rotation‐simulated microgravity. Conclusions Our study demonstrates for the first time that Ca2+/CaMKII/HDAC4 signalling plays a pivotal role in myocardial remodelling under rotation‐simulated microgravity and hypergravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caizhi Liu
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Guohui Zhong
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Yingjun Tan
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yuheng Li
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xingcheng Gao
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Weijia Sun
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Jianwei Li
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Jin
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Dengchao Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Life Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinxin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Life Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zizhong Liu
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Liang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Youyou Li
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Ruikai Du
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yinlong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jianqi Xue
- Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Dingsheng Zhao
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Jinping Song
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Shukuan Ling
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yingxian Li
- State Key Lab of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
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Ivanova K, Hemmersbach R. Guanylyl Cyclase-cGMP Signaling Pathway in Melanocytes: Differential Effects of Altered Gravity in Non-Metastatic and Metastatic Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031139. [PMID: 32046325 PMCID: PMC7037284 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human epidermal melanocytes as melanin producing skin cells represent a crucial barrier against UV-radiation and oxidative stress. It was shown that the intracellular signaling molecule cyclic guanosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP), generated by the guanylyl cyclases (GCs), e.g., the nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive soluble GC (sGC) and the natriuretic peptide-activated particulate GC (GC-A/GC-B), plays a role in the melanocyte response to environmental stress. Importantly, cGMP is involved in NO-induced perturbation of melanocyte–extracellular matrix interactions and in addition, increased NO production during inflammation may lead to loss of melanocytes and support melanoma metastasis. Further, the NO-sensitive sGC is expressed predominantly in human melanocytes and non-metastatic melanoma cells, whereas absence of functional sGC but up-regulated expression of GC-A/GC-B and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) are detected in metastatic cells. Thus, suppression of sGC expression as well as up-regulated expression of GC-A/GC-B/iNOS appears to correlate with tumor aggressiveness. As the cGMP pathway plays important roles in melanocyte (patho)physiology, we present an overview on the differential effects of altered gravity (hypergravity/simulated microgravity) on the cGMP signaling pathway in melanocytes and melanoma cells with different metastatic potential. We believe that future experiments in real microgravity may benefit from considering cGMP signaling as a possible factor for melanocyte transformation and in medication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard D Boyle
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC, United States
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36
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Stervbo U, Roch T, Westhoff TH, Gayova L, Kurchenko A, Seibert FS, Babel N. Repeated Changes to the Gravitational Field Negatively Affect the Serum Concentration of Select Growth Factors and Cytokines. Front Physiol 2019; 10:402. [PMID: 31057415 PMCID: PMC6478750 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Space flights, some physical activities, and extreme sports can greatly alter the gravitational forces experienced by the body. Being a deviation from the constant pull of Earth, these alterations can be considered gravitational stress and have the potential to affect physiological processes. Physical cues play a vital role in the homeostasis and function of the immune system. The effect of recurrent alterations of the gravitational pull on the levels of soluble mediator such as cytokines is unknown. Parabolic flights provide a controlled environment and make these a suitable model to study the effects of gravitational stress. Utilizing this model, we evaluated the effects of short-term gravitational stress on serum concentration of cytokines and other soluble mediators. Blood was taken from 12 healthy volunteers immediately before the first parabola and immediately after the last. Samples taken on the ground at corresponding time points the day before were used to control for circadian effects. A wide range of soluble mediators was analyzed using a multiplex bead assay. We found that the rate-change of eight molecules was significantly affected by the parabolic flight. Among other functions, these molecules, EGF, PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB, HGF, IP-10, Eotaxin (CCL11), TARC, and Angiopoietin-2, can be associated with bone remodeling and immune activation. It is therefore possible that gravitational stress can have clinically relevant impact on the control of a wide range of physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrik Stervbo
- Center for Translational Medicine, Medical Department I, Marien Hospital Herne, University Hospitals of the Ruhr-University of Bochum, Herne, Germany
| | - Toralf Roch
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Timm H Westhoff
- Center for Translational Medicine, Medical Department I, Marien Hospital Herne, University Hospitals of the Ruhr-University of Bochum, Herne, Germany
| | - Ludmyla Gayova
- Department of Bioorganic and Biological Chemistry, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Andrii Kurchenko
- Department of Bioorganic and Biological Chemistry, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Felix S Seibert
- Center for Translational Medicine, Medical Department I, Marien Hospital Herne, University Hospitals of the Ruhr-University of Bochum, Herne, Germany
| | - Nina Babel
- Center for Translational Medicine, Medical Department I, Marien Hospital Herne, University Hospitals of the Ruhr-University of Bochum, Herne, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
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38
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Acharya A, Brungs S, Lichterfeld Y, Hescheler J, Hemmersbach R, Boeuf H, Sachinidis A. Parabolic, Flight-Induced, Acute Hypergravity and Microgravity Effects on the Beating Rate of Human Cardiomyocytes. Cells 2019; 8:cells8040352. [PMID: 31013958 PMCID: PMC6523861 DOI: 10.3390/cells8040352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional studies of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (hCMs) under different gravity conditions contribute to aerospace medical research. To study the effects of altered gravity on hCMs, we exposed them to acute hypergravity and microgravity phases in the presence and absence of the β-adrenoceptor isoprenalin (ISO), L-type Ca2+ channel (LTCC) agonist Bay-K8644, or LTCC blocker nifedipine, and monitored their beating rate (BR). These logistically demanding experiments were executed during the 66th Parabolic Flight Campaign of the European Space Agency. The hCM cultures were exposed to 31 alternating hypergravity, microgravity, and hypergravity phases, each lasting 20–22 s. During the parabolic flight experiment, BR and cell viability were monitored using the xCELLigence real-time cell analyzer Cardio Instrument®. Corresponding experiments were performed on the ground (1 g), using an identical set-up. Our results showed that BR continuously increased during the parabolic flight, reaching a 40% maximal increase after 15 parabolas, compared with the pre-parabolic (1 g) phase. However, in the presence of the LTCC blocker nifedipine, no change in BR was observed, even after 31 parabolas. We surmise that the parabola-mediated increase in BR was induced by the LTCC blocker. Moreover, the increase in BR induced by ISO and Bay-K8644 during the pre-parabola phase was further elevated by 20% after 25 parabolas. This additional effect reflects the positive impact of the parabolas in the absence of both agonists. Our study suggests that acute alterations of gravity significantly increase the BR of hCMs via the LTCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviseka Acharya
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Sonja Brungs
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Gravitational Biology, Linder Hoehe, 51147 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Yannick Lichterfeld
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Gravitational Biology, Linder Hoehe, 51147 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Jürgen Hescheler
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Ruth Hemmersbach
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Gravitational Biology, Linder Hoehe, 51147 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Helene Boeuf
- INSERM (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), U1026-Biotis, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
| | - Agapios Sachinidis
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
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39
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de Sousa N, Rodriguez-Esteban G, Colagè I, D'Ambrosio P, van Loon JJWA, Saló E, Adell T, Auletta G. Transcriptomic Analysis of Planarians under Simulated Microgravity or 8 g Demonstrates That Alteration of Gravity Induces Genomic and Cellular Alterations That Could Facilitate Tumoral Transformation. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E720. [PMID: 30743987 PMCID: PMC6386889 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The possibility of humans to live outside of Earth on another planet has attracted the attention of numerous scientists around the world. One of the greatest difficulties is that humans cannot live in an extra-Earth environment without proper equipment. In addition, the consequences of chronic gravity alterations in human body are not known. Here, we used planarians as a model system to test how gravity fluctuations could affect complex organisms. Planarians are an ideal system, since they can regenerate any missing part and they are continuously renewing their tissues. We performed a transcriptomic analysis of animals submitted to simulated microgravity (Random Positioning Machine, RPM) (s-µg) and hypergravity (8 g), and we observed that the transcriptional levels of several genes are affected. Surprisingly, we found the major differences in the s-µg group. The results obtained in the transcriptomic analysis were validated, demonstrating that our transcriptomic data is reliable. We also found that, in a sensitive environment, as under Hippo signaling silencing, gravity fluctuations potentiate the increase in cell proliferation. Our data revealed that changes in gravity severely affect genetic transcription and that these alterations potentiate molecular disorders that could promote the development of multiple diseases such as cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nídia de Sousa
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Gustavo Rodriguez-Esteban
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ivan Colagè
- Pontifical University Antonianum, via Merulana 124, 00185 Rome, Italy.
- Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, DISF Centre, Via dei Pianellari 41, 00186 Rome, Italy.
| | - Paolo D'Ambrosio
- Pontifical University Antonianum, via Merulana 124, 00185 Rome, Italy.
- University of Cassino, Via Zamosch 43, 03043 Cassino, Italy.
| | - Jack J W A van Loon
- Dutch Experiment Support Center (DESC), Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Oral Pathology, Amsterdam UMC location VU University Medical Center & Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), 1081 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- European Space Agency-ESA-Technology Center-ESTEC, TEC-MMG-Lab, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
| | - Emili Saló
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Teresa Adell
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Gennaro Auletta
- University of Cassino, Via Zamosch 43, 03043 Cassino, Italy.
- Pontifical Gregorian University, Piazza della Pilotta 4, 00187 Roma, Italy.
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40
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Kopp S, Krüger M, Bauer J, Wehland M, Corydon TJ, Sahana J, Nassef MZ, Melnik D, Bauer TJ, Schulz H, Schütte A, Schmitz B, Oltmann H, Feldmann S, Infanger M, Grimm D. Microgravity Affects Thyroid Cancer Cells during the TEXUS-53 Mission Stronger than Hypergravity. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E4001. [PMID: 30545079 PMCID: PMC6321223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19124001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is the most abundant tumor of the endocrine organs. Poorly differentiated thyroid cancer is still difficult to treat. Human cells exposed to long-term real (r-) and simulated (s-) microgravity (µg) revealed morphological alterations and changes in the expression profile of genes involved in several biological processes. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of short-term µg on poorly differentiated follicular thyroid cancer cells (FTC-133 cell line) resulting from 6 min of exposure to µg on a sounding rocket flight. As sounding rocket flights consist of several flight phases with different acceleration forces, rigorous control experiments are mandatory. Hypergravity (hyper-g) experiments were performed at 18g on a centrifuge in simulation of the rocket launch and s-µg was simulated by a random positioning machine (RPM). qPCR analyses of selected genes revealed no remarkable expression changes in controls as well as in hyper-g samples taken at the end of the first minute of launch. Using a centrifuge initiating 18g for 1 min, however, presented moderate gene expression changes, which were significant for COL1A1, VCL, CFL1, PTK2, IL6, CXCL8 and MMP14. We also identified a network of mutual interactions of the investigated genes and proteins by employing in-silico analyses. Lastly, µg-samples indicated that microgravity is a stronger regulator of gene expression than hyper-g.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Kopp
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Marcus Krüger
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Johann Bauer
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Markus Wehland
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Thomas J Corydon
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Jayashree Sahana
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Mohamed Zakaria Nassef
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Daniela Melnik
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Thomas J Bauer
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Herbert Schulz
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, D-50931 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Andreas Schütte
- Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Airbus-Allee 1, D-28199 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Burkhard Schmitz
- Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Airbus-Allee 1, D-28199 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Hergen Oltmann
- Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Airbus-Allee 1, D-28199 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Stefan Feldmann
- Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Airbus-Allee 1, D-28199 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Manfred Infanger
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Daniela Grimm
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
- Gravitational Biology and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
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Balestra C, Machado ML, Theunissen S, Balestra A, Cialoni D, Clot C, Besnard S, Kammacher L, Delzenne J, Germonpré P, Lafère P. Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency: A Marker of Cerebral Arousal During Modified Gravitational Conditions Related to Parabolic Flights. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1403. [PMID: 30333762 PMCID: PMC6175980 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In situ evaluation of human brain performance and arousal remains challenging during operational circumstances, hence the need for a rapid, reliable and reproducible tool. Here we hypothesized that the Critical flicker fusion frequency (CFFF) reflecting/requiring visual integration, visuo-motor skills and decision-taking process might be a powerful, fast and simple tool in modified gravity environments. Therefore 11 male healthy volunteers were assessed for higher cognitive functions with CFFF during parabolic flights. They were assessed at different time points: upon arrival to the base, 30 min after subcutaneous scopolamine administration, before parabolas, during hypergravity and microgravity at break time (between the 16th and the 17th parabola), on the return flight and on the ground after landing. First, a stable, and consistent measurement of CFFF could be obtained within 12 s. Second, under modified gravitational conditions, the perceptual ability of participants is significantly modified. Compared to the baseline, evolution is characterized by a significant increase of CFFF when in microgravity (0g: 106.9 ± 5.5%), and a significant decrease of CFFF while in hypergravity (2g: 94.5 ± 3.8%). Other time-points were not statistically different from the baseline value. Although the underlying mechanism is still debated, we suggest that the CFFF test is a global marker of cerebral arousal as the result of visuo-motor and decision taking testing based on a simple visual stimulus with an uncomplicated set up that could be used under various environmental conditions. The authors express an opinion that it would be advisable to introduce CFFF measurement during spaceflights as it allows individual longitudinal assessment of individual ability even under conditions of incomplete physiological compensation, as shown here during parabolic flights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costantino Balestra
- Environmental, Occupational and Ageing "Integrative Physiology" Laboratory, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant (HE2B), Brussels, Belgium.,Divers Alert Network (DAN) Europe Research Division, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Sigrid Theunissen
- Environmental, Occupational and Ageing "Integrative Physiology" Laboratory, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant (HE2B), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ambre Balestra
- Environmental, Occupational and Ageing "Integrative Physiology" Laboratory, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant (HE2B), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Danilo Cialoni
- Divers Alert Network (DAN) Europe Research Division, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christian Clot
- Environmental, Occupational and Ageing "Integrative Physiology" Laboratory, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant (HE2B), Brussels, Belgium.,UNICAEN, INSERM, COMETE, Normandie Université, Caen, France
| | | | | | - Julie Delzenne
- Environmental, Occupational and Ageing "Integrative Physiology" Laboratory, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant (HE2B), Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Road Safety Institute (BRSI), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Peter Germonpré
- Environmental, Occupational and Ageing "Integrative Physiology" Laboratory, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant (HE2B), Brussels, Belgium.,Divers Alert Network (DAN) Europe Research Division, Brussels, Belgium.,Centre for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Military Hospital "Queen Astrid", Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Lafère
- Environmental, Occupational and Ageing "Integrative Physiology" Laboratory, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant (HE2B), Brussels, Belgium.,Divers Alert Network (DAN) Europe Research Division, Brussels, Belgium.,Laboratoire ORPHY, EA4324 UFR Sciences et Techniques, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France
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42
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Acharya A, Brungs S, Henry M, Rotshteyn T, Singh Yaduvanshi N, Wegener L, Jentzsch S, Hescheler J, Hemmersbach R, Boeuf H, Sachinidis A. Modulation of Differentiation Processes in Murine Embryonic Stem Cells Exposed to Parabolic Flight-Induced Acute Hypergravity and Microgravity. Stem Cells Dev 2018; 27:838-847. [PMID: 29630478 PMCID: PMC5995265 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2017.0294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic developmental studies under microgravity conditions in space are very limited. To study the effects of short-term altered gravity on embryonic development processes, we exposed mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to phases of hypergravity and microgravity and studied the differentiation potential of the cells using wide-genome microarray analysis. During the 64th European Space Agency's parabolic flight campaign, mESCs were exposed to 31 parabolas. Each parabola comprised phases lasting 22 s of hypergravity, microgravity, and a repeat of hypergravity. On different parabolas, RNA was isolated for microarray analysis. After exposure to 31 parabolas, mESCs (P31 mESCs) were further differentiated under normal gravity (1 g) conditions for 12 days, producing P31 12-day embryoid bodies (EBs). After analysis of the microarrays, the differentially expressed genes were analyzed using different bioinformatic tools to identify developmental and nondevelopmental biological processes affected by conditions on the parabolic flight experiment. Our results demonstrated that several genes belonging to GOs associated with cell cycle and proliferation were downregulated in undifferentiated mESCs exposed to gravity changes. However, several genes belonging to developmental processes, such as vasculature development, kidney development, skin development, and to the TGF-β signaling pathway, were upregulated. Interestingly, similar enriched and suppressed GOs were obtained in P31 12-day EBs compared with ground control 12-day EBs. Our results show that undifferentiated mESCs exposed to alternate hypergravity and microgravity phases expressed several genes associated with developmental/differentiation and cell cycle processes, suggesting a transition from the undifferentiated pluripotent to a more differentiated stage of mESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviseka Acharya
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sonja Brungs
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany
| | - Margit Henry
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tamara Rotshteyn
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nirmala Singh Yaduvanshi
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lucia Wegener
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany
| | - Simon Jentzsch
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hescheler
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ruth Hemmersbach
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany
| | - Helene Boeuf
- INSERM-U1026, BioTis, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Agapios Sachinidis
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Kim D, Kwon S. Mechanical load increase-induced changes in cytoskeletal structure and cellular barrier function in human cerebral endothelial cells. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 115:2624-2631. [PMID: 29896880 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Globally, approximately a billion patients are estimated to suffer from neurological disorders. Although there are many therapeutic candidates for the central nervous system, treatment of brain disorders is restricted by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is a highly selective membrane that protects the brain from exogenous substances. This study was undertaken to develop a novel strategy to overcome the BBB and improve the efficiency of drug delivery to the brain by mechanical load increase using hypergravity. Human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells were exposed three times to 20 min hypergravity (10g), with a 20-min rest period between each exposure. The applied hypergravity reversibly decreased the cellular metabolic activity and increased the permeation rate of fluorescein sodium salt, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (FD-4), and fluorescein-labeled jacalin. Following the exposure to hypergravity, we also observed structural changes of the cytoskeleton and tight junctions, and an alteration in the expression levels of related genes. These results indicate that increased mechanical load due to the applied hypergravity affects the cytoskeletal arrangement and tight junctions, thereby weakening the cell barrier function and enhancing the permeability of the paracellular pathway. Thus, the mechanical load increase by hypergravity has the potential of being used as a novel strategy to overcome the BBB for brain drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjoo Kim
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Soonjo Kwon
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
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Abstract
Humans have a remarkable ability to adjust the way they manipulate tools through a genuine regulation of grip force according to the task. However, rapid changes in the dynamical context may challenge this skill, as shown in many experimental approaches. Most experiments adopt perturbation paradigms that affect only one sensory modality. We hypothesize that very fast adaptation can occur if coherent information from multiple sensory modalities is provided to the central nervous system. Here, we test whether participants can switch between different and never experienced dynamical environments induced by centrifugation of the body. Seven participants lifted an object four times in a row successively in 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 2, 1.5, and 1 g. We continuously measured grip force, load force and the gravitoinertial acceleration that was aligned with body axis (perceived gravity). Participants adopted stereotyped grasping movements immediately upon entry in a new environment and needed only one trial to adapt grip forces to a stable performance in each new gravity environment. This result was underlined by good correlations between grip and load forces in the first trial. Participants predictively applied larger grip forces when they expected increasing gravity steps. They also decreased grip force when they expected decreasing gravity steps, but not as much as they could, indicating imperfect anticipation in that condition. The participants' performance could rather be explained by a combination of successful scaling of grip force according to gravity changes and a separate safety factor. The data suggest that in highly unfamiliar dynamic environments, grip force regulation is characterized by a combination of a successful anticipation of the experienced environmental condition, a safety factor reflecting strategic response to uncertainties about the environment and rapid feedback mechanisms to optimize performance under constant conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier White
- INSERM UMR1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
| | - Jean-Louis Thonnard
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.,Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Philippe Lefèvre
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.,Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Joachim Hermsdörfer
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Institute of Human Movement Science, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Abstract
Jet fighter pilots experience high gravitational acceleration forces in the cephalocaudal direction (+Gz), causing severe stress. Stress affects different physiological functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Although the effects of exposure to hypergravity on cardiovascular and cerebral functions have been the subject of numerous studies, crucial information regarding potential pathophysiological alterations following hypergravity exposure in the gastrointestinal tract is lacking. We recently documented a significant decrease in gastric secretory activity in rats after acute exposure to hypergravity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of adrenalectomy on gastric acid secretion and plasma gastrin level in hypergravity-exposed rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were adrenalectomized and exposed to +10Gz three times for 3 min. Gastric juice and blood samples were collected, and the volume and total acidity of gastric juice and plasma level of gastrin were measured. Consistent with our previous data, acute exposure to +10Gz significantly altered the gastric juice parameters in the sham-operated rats. The volume (P < 0.001) and acidity (P < 0.001) of gastric juice in the hypergravity-exposed rats were significantly lower than those in the nonexposed rats. In contrast, in adrenalectomized rats, the differences in the gastric juice volume (P = 0.712) and acidity (P = 0.279) were not statistically significant between the hypergravity-exposed and nonexposed rats. We demonstrated that adrenalectomy abolished hypergravity-induced gastric acid hyposecretion, but did not influence gastrin release. These findings suggest that the adrenal glands are required for hypergravity-induced gastric acid hyposecretion.
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Yoon G, Oh CS, Kim HS. Distinctive expression patterns of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and endothelial nitric oxide synthase following hypergravity exposure. Oncotarget 2018; 7:33675-88. [PMID: 27191892 PMCID: PMC5085111 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was designed to examine the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and the level and activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the hearts and livers of mice exposed to hypergravity. Hypergravity-induced hypoxia and the subsequent post-exposure reoxygenation significantly increased cardiac HIF-1α levels. Furthermore, the levels and activity of cardiac eNOS also showed significant increase immediately following hypergravity exposure and during the reoxygenation period. In contrast, the expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) showed significant elevation only during the reoxygenation period. These data raise the possibility that the increase in cardiac HIF-1α expression induced by reoxygenation involves a cascade of signaling events, including activation of the Akt and ERK pathways. In the liver, HIF-1α expression was significantly increased immediately after hypergravity exposure, indicating that hypergravity exposure to causes hepatocellular hypoxia. The hypergravity-exposed livers showed significantly higher eNOS immunoreactivity than did those of control mice. Consistent with these results, significant increases in eNOS activity and nitrate/nitrite levels were also observed. These findings suggest that hypergravity-induced hypoxia plays a significant role in the upregulation of hepatic eNOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gun Yoon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong Sik Oh
- Aerospace Medicine Research Center, Republic of Korea Air Force Aerospace Medical Center, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Soo Kim
- Department of Pathology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Hashimoto M, Ho G, Shimizu Y, Sugama S, Takenouchi T, Waragai M, Wei J, Takamatsu Y. Potential Application of Centrifuges to Protect the CNS in Space and on Earth. Curr Alzheimer Res 2018; 15:544-551. [PMID: 29298650 DOI: 10.2174/1567205015666171229225501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Centrifuges are the principal means of generating physiological hypergravity and have been used for many medical purposes, including the therapy of psychiatric diseases and evaluation of vestibular system in the pilots. In particular, modern centrifuges have evolved into mechanically sophisticated precision instruments compared to primitive ones in old times, indicating that centrifuges might possess great potential in modern medicine. Indeed, studies are in progress to apply centrifuges to musculoskeletal degenerative diseases, such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Given that the agingrelated diseases are manifested under microgravity conditions, including astronauts and the bed-ridden elderly, it is reasonable to speculate that centrifuge-induced hypergravity may counteract the progression of these diseases. Such a view may also be important for neurodegenerative diseases for which the radical treatments are yet to be established. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to discuss a potential therapeutic use of centrifuges for protection against the central nervous system (CNS) disorders, both in space and on Earth. Mechanistically hypergravity may exert stimulatory effects on preconditioning, chaperone expression, synapse plasticity, and growth and differentiation in the nervous system. Furthermore, hypergravity may suppress the progress of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), leading to inhibition of T2DM-triggered CNS disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia and depression. CONCLUSION Moreover, it is possible that hypergravity may counteract the neurodegeneration in hippocampus induced by the microgravity conditions and psychiatric diseases. Collectively, further investigations are warranted to demonstrate that centrifuge-induced hypergravity may be beneficial for the therapy of the CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Hashimoto
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Sciences, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Gilbert Ho
- PCND Neuroscience Research Institute, Poway, CA 92064, United States
| | - Yuka Shimizu
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Sciences, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Shuei Sugama
- Department of Physiology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan
| | - Takato Takenouchi
- Division of Animal Sciences, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305- 8634, Japan
| | - Masaaki Waragai
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Sciences, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Jianshe Wei
- Institute for Brain Sciences Research, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yoshiki Takamatsu
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Sciences, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
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48
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Soga K, Wakabayashi K, Hoson T. Growth and cortical microtubule dynamics in shoot organs under microgravity and hypergravity conditions. Plant Signal Behav 2018; 13:e1422468. [PMID: 29286875 PMCID: PMC5790418 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2017.1422468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The body shape of plants varied in proportion to the logarithm of the magnitude of gravity in the range from microgravity to hypergravity to resist the gravitational force. Here we discuss the roles of cortical microtubule and 65 kDa microtubule-associated protein-1 (MAP65-1) in gravity-induced modification of growth anisotropy. Microgravity stimulated elongation growth and suppressed lateral expansion in shoot organs, such as hypocotyls and epicotyls. On the other hand, hypergravity inhibited elongation growth and promoted lateral expansion in shoot organs. The number of cells with transverse microtubules was increased by microgravity, but decreased by hypergravity. Furthermore, the levels of MAP65-1, which is involved in the maintenance of the transverse microtubule orientation, were increased by microgravity, but decreased by hypergravity. Therefore, the regulation of orientation of cortical microtubules via changes in the levels of MAP65-1 may contribute to the modification of the body shape of plants to resist the gravitational force.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kouichi Soga
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
- CONTACT Kouichi Soga Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
| | | | - Takayuki Hoson
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
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49
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Yoon G, Oh CS, Kim HS. Hypergravity upregulates renal inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide production. Oncotarget 2017; 7:30147-54. [PMID: 27174912 PMCID: PMC5058670 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to hypergravity severely decreases renal blood flow, potentially causing renal dysfunction. Nitric oxide (NO), which is endogenously synthesized by inducible NO synthase (iNOS), plays an important role in the regulation of renal function. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of hypergravity exposure on the production of NO in kidneys. To determine whether hypergravity induces renal hypoxia and alters renal iNOS expression and NO production, mice were exposed to short-term hypergravity at +3Gz for 1 h. The time course of iNOS mRNA expression, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α expression, and NO production was examined. Renal HIF-1α levels were significantly elevated immediately after centrifugation, and this increase was sustained for 3 h post-exposure. iNOS mRNA levels were also significantly increased immediately after exposure and were maintained during the reoxygenation period. Immunohistochemical staining for iNOS revealed that the cortical tubular epithelium exhibited moderate to strong cytoplasmic iNOS immunoreactivity immediately after hypergravity exposure and during the reoxygenation period. The time course of NO production was similar to that of iNOS expression. Our results suggest that both hypoxia and reoxygenation might be involved in the upregulation of HIF-1α in the kidneys of mice exposed to hypergravity. Significant increases in renocortical iNOS expression immediately after centrifugation and during the reoxygenation period suggest that iNOS expression induced by hypergravity exposure might play a protective role against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in the renal cortex. Further investigations are necessary to clarify the role of iNOS and NO in kidneys exposed to hypergravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gun Yoon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong Sik Oh
- Aerospace Medicine Research Center, Republic of Korea Air Force Aerospace Medical Center, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Soo Kim
- Department of Pathology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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50
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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