Simulated Microgravity Modulates Focal Adhesion Gene Expression in Human Neural Stem Progenitor Cells
Wei Wang,
Elena Di Nisio,
Valerio Licursi,
Emanuele Cacci,
Giuseppe Lupo,
Zaal Kokaia,
Sergio Galanti,
Paolo Degan,
Sara D’Angelo,
Patrizio Castagnola,
Sara Tavella,
Rodolfo Negri
Affiliations
Wei Wang
Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Elena Di Nisio
Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Valerio Licursi
Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR) of Italy c/o Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Emanuele Cacci
Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giuseppe Lupo
Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Zaal Kokaia
Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
Sergio Galanti
Excise, Custom and Monopolies Agency, ADM, 00153 Rome, Italy
Paolo Degan
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
Sara D’Angelo
Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Patrizio Castagnola
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
Sara Tavella
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
Rodolfo Negri
Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
We analyzed the morphology and the transcriptomic changes of human neural stem progenitor cells (hNSPCs) grown on laminin in adherent culture conditions and subjected to simulated microgravity for different times in a random positioning machine apparatus. Low-cell-density cultures exposed to simulated microgravity for 24 h showed cell aggregate formation and significant modulation of several genes involved in focal adhesion, cytoskeleton regulation, and cell cycle control. These effects were much more limited in hNSPCs cultured at high density in the same conditions. We also found that some of the genes modulated upon exposure to simulated microgravity showed similar changes in hNSPCs grown without laminin in non-adherent culture conditions under normal gravity. These results suggest that reduced gravity counteracts the interactions of cells with the extracellular matrix, inducing morphological and transcriptional changes that can be observed in low-density cultures.
