title: Cytoskeleton modifications and autophagy induction in TCam-2 seminoma cells exposed to simulated microgravity.
abstract: The study of how mechanical forces may influence cell behavior via cytoskeleton remodeling is a relevant challenge of nowadays that may allow us to define the relationship between mechanics and biochemistry and to address the larger problem of biological complexity. An increasing amount of literature data reported that microgravity condition alters cell architecture as a consequence of cytoskeleton structure modifications. Herein, we are reporting the morphological, cytoskeletal, and behavioral modifications due to the exposition of a seminoma cell line (TCam-2) to simulated microgravity. Even if no differences in cell proliferation and apoptosis were observed after 24 hours of exposure to simulated microgravity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that the change of gravity vector significantly affects TCam-2 cell surface morphological appearance. Consistent with this observation, we found that microtubule orientation is altered by microgravity. Moreover, the confocal analysis of actin microfilaments revealed an increase in the cell width induced by the low gravitational force. Microtubules and microfilaments have been related to autophagy modulation and, interestingly, we found a significant autophagic induction in TCam-2 cells exposed to simulated microgravity. This observation is of relevant interest because it shows, for the first time, TCam-2 cell autophagy as a biological response induced by a mechanical stimulus instead of a biochemical one.
authors.affiliation: Italian Space Agency (ASI), Via del Politecnico snc, 00133 Rome, Italy ; Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferranti
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cammarota
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy ; Systems Biology Group, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Scarpa 16, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7474-5553
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Masiello
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2999-6556
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Corano Scheri
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabrizi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiraldi
authors.affiliation: Systems Biology Group, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Scarpa 16, 00161 Rome, Italy ; Department of Surgery "Pietro Valdoni," Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5469-6419
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cucina
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catizone
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2199-170X
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ricci
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001343:Autophagy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018239:Seminoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014893:Weightlessness