title: Impact of simulated microgravity on microvascular endothelial cell apoptosis.
abstract: Cardiovascular deconditioning is known to occur in astronauts exposed to microgravity. Endothelial dysfunction at microcirculatory sites might contribute to cardiovascular deconditioning induced by weightlessness. Recent studies have reported changes in the morphology and gene expression of endothelial cells exposed to conditions of simulated microgravity. The present study was aimed at examining the effects of microgravity on the apoptosis of microvascular endothelial cells and the mechanism underlying these effects. We simulated a microgravity environment and found that microgravity induced microvascular endothelial cell apoptosis and that this effect was correlated with the downregulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, increased expression of NF-κB, and depolymerization of F-actin. These findings may provide important insights into the origin of the adverse physiological changes occurring due to exposure to microgravity conditions.
authors.affiliation: Nanlou Respiratory Diseases Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chun-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tian-Zhi
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Chang-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015536:Down-Regulation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D014893:Weightlessness / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D053148:Caspase 3; D016328:NF-kappa B; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein