title: The influence of simulated microgravity on purinergic signaling is different between individual culture and endothelial and smooth muscle cell coculture.
abstract: Exposure to microgravity conditions causes cardiovascular deconditioning in astronauts during spaceflight. Until now, no specific drugs are available for countermeasure, since the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) play key roles in various vascular functions, many of which are regulated by purinergic 2 (P2) receptors. However, their function in ECs and SMCs under microgravity conditions is still unclear. In this study, primary ECs and SMCs were isolated from bovine aorta and verified with specific markers. We show for the first time that the P2 receptor expression pattern is altered in ECs and SMCs after 24 h exposure to simulated microgravity using a clinostat. However, conditioned medium compensates this change in specific P2 receptors, for example, P2X7. Notably, P2 receptors such as P2X7 might be the important players during the paracrine interaction. Additionally, ECs and SMCs secreted different cytokines under simulated microgravity, leading into a pathogenic proliferation and migration. In conclusion, our data indicate P2 receptors might be important players responding to gravity changes in ECs and SMCs. Since some artificial P2 receptor ligands are applied as drugs, it is reasonable to assume that they might be promising candidates against cardiovascular deconditioning in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany ; Institute of Pharmacology and Medical Chemistry, University of Dusseldorf, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pansky
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Medical Chemistry, University of Dusseldorf, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kassack
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, 51147 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hemmersbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany.
authors.forename: Edda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tobiasch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology; D002417:Cattle; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic