title: Moderate alterations of the cytoskeleton in human chondrocytes after short-term microgravity produced by parabolic flight maneuvers could be prevented by up-regulation of BMP-2 and SOX-9.
abstract: Real and simulated microgravity induce a variety of changes in human cells. Most importantly, changes in the cytoskeleton have been noted, and studies on microtubules have shown that they are gravisensitive. This study focuses on the effects of short-term real microgravity on gene expression, protein content, and cytoskeletal structure of human chondrocytes. We cultivated human chondrocytes, took them along a parabolic flight during the 24th Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt Parabolic (DLR) Flight Campaign, and fixed them after the 1st and the 31st parabola. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed no changes after the 1st parabola, but disruptions of β-tubulin, vimentin, and cytokeratin networks after the 31st parabola. No F-actin stress fibers were detected even after 31 parabolas. Furthermore, mRNA and protein quantifications after the 31st parabola showed a clear up-regulation of cytoskeletal genes and proteins. The mRNAs were significantly up-regulated as follows: TUBB, 2-fold; VIM, 1.3-fold; KRT8, 1.8-fold; ACTB, 1.9-fold; ICAM1, 4.8-fold; OPN, 7-fold; ITGA10, 1.5-fold; ITGB1, 1.2-fold; TGFB1, 1.5-fold; CAV1, 2.6-fold; SOX9, 1.7-fold; BMP-2, 5.3-fold. However, SOX5 (-25%) and SOX6 (-28%) gene expression was decreased. Contrary, no significant changes in gene expression levels were observed during vibration and hypergravity experiments. These data suggest that short-term microgravity affects the gene expression of distinct proteins. In contrast to poorly differentiated follicular thyroid cancer cells or human endothelial cells, chondrocytes only exert moderate cytoskeletal alterations. The up-regulation of BMP-2, TGF-β1, and SOX9 in chondrocytes may play a key role in preventing cytoskeletal alterations.
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Ganna
authors: G
authors: Aleshcheva
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Wehland
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Jayashree
authors: J
authors: Sahana
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Johann
authors: J
authors: Bauer
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Thomas J
authors: TJ
authors: Corydon
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Hemmersbach
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Timo
authors: T
authors: Frett
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Marcel
authors: M
authors: Egli
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Infanger
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Jirka
authors: J
authors: Grosse
authors: *Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark; Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; DLR German Aerospace Center, Biomedical Research, Gravitational Biology, Cologne, Germany; Aerospace Biomedical Science and Technology, Space Biology Group, Luzerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany dgg@biomed.au.dk.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Grimm
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013026:Space Flight; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
chemical_list: C525718:BMP2 protein, human; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019012:Integrin beta1; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor
keywords: F-actin; gene expression; hypergravity; vibration