title: The impact of altered gravity and vibration on endothelial cells during a parabolic flight.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelial cells (EC) cultured under altered gravity conditions show a cytoskeletal disorganization and differential gene expression (short-term effects), as well as apoptosis in adherently growing EC or formation of tubular 3D structures (long-term effects).
  
  
  METHODS
  Investigating short-term effects of real microgravity, we exposed EC to parabolic flight maneuvers and analysed them on both protein and transcriptional level. The effects of hypergravity and vibration were studied separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pan-actin and tubulin proteins were elevated by vibration and down-regulated by hypergravity. β-Actin was reduced by vibration. Moesin protein was reduced by both vibration and hypergravity, ezrin potein was strongly elevated under vibration. Gene expression of ACTB, CCND1, CDC6, CDKN1A, VEGFA, FLK-1, EZR, ITBG1, OPN, CASP3, CASP8, ANXA2, and BIRC5 was reduced under vibration. With the exception of CCNA2, CCND1, MSN, RDX, OPN, BIRC5, and ACTB all investigated genes were downregulated by hypergravity. After one parabola (P) CCNA2, CCND1, CDC6, CDKN1A, EZR, MSN, OPN, VEGFA, CASP3, CASP8, ANXA1, ANXA2, and BIRC5 were up-, while FLK1 was downregulated. EZR, MSN, OPN, ANXA2, and BIRC5 were upregulated after 31P.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genes of the cytoskeleton, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation were affected by parabolic flight maneuvers. We show that the microgravity stimulus is stronger than hypergravity/vibration.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wehland
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hauslage
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hemmersbach
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Jirka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grosse
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Infanger
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grimm
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints; D002460:Cell Line; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D018470:Gravity, Altered; D006801:Humans; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D013026:Space Flight; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014732:Vibration; D000099149:Ezrin
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; D000099149:Ezrin; C071058:moesin