Simulated microgravity does not alter epithelial cell adhesion to matrix and other molecules.
Microgravity has advantages for the cultivation of tissues with high fidelity; however, tissue formation requires cellular recognition and adhesion.  We tested the hypothesis that simulated microgravity does not affect cell adhesion.  Human colorectal carcinoma cells were cultured in the NASA Rotating Wall Vessel (RWV) under low shear stress with randomization of the gravity vector that simulates microgravity.  After 6-7 days, cells  were assayed for binding to various substrates and compared to cells grown in standard tissue culture flasks and static suspension cultures.  The RWV cultures bound as well to basement membrane proteins and to CEA, an intercellular adhesion molecule, as control cultures did.  Thus, microgravity does not alter epithelial cell adhesion and may be useful for tissue engineering.
Jessup
J M
JM
Department of Surgery, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA 02215.
Brown
K
K
Ishii
S
S
Ford
R
R
Goodwin
T J
TJ
Spaulding
G
G
D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012399:Rotation; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D003094:Collagen