title: Coinduction of GTP cyclohydrolase I and inducible NO synthase in rat osteoblasts during space flight: apoptotic and self-protective response?
abstract: The mechanism underlying space flight-induced osteopenia is unknown. In osteoblasts, the inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) is involved in the early response to mechanical strain and induction of apoptosis. GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH) is a key enzyme that is essential for iNOS activity. The coordinate expression of GTPCH prevents apoptosis that is induced by iNOS/NO. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of space flight on the expression of apoptotic/anti-apoptotic molecules iNOS and GTPCH in rat osteoblasts. Rat osteoblasts were cultured aboard a space shuttle and solubilized on the 4th and 5th days of the mission. The mRNA levels for iNOS and GTPCH in the flight cultures were increased to at least 120-fold and threefold higher than the ground (1 x g) controls, respectively. The amount of cellular DNA per flight culture vessel was 53% and 58% of the ground controls on the 4th and 5th days, respectively. However, the increasing rate of the DNA amount from the 4th to the 5th day was not different between the flight cultures and the ground controls. Morphologically, the cells grew in space as well as on the ground. Co-expression of GTPCH and iNOS may indicate a self-protective mode of action in osteoblasts against the harmful stress under microgravity.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan. kumei.bch@tmd.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumei
authors.forename: Sadao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Hitoyata
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimokawa
authors.forename: Kei'ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase / Q000235:genetics*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013026:Space Flight; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase