The negative effects of space flight on cardiovascular health have been demonstrated and documented over many years. The maintenance of vascular homeostasis lies in the proper function of vascular cells, specifically, endothelial cells that line the vessel wall and smooth muscle cells that make up the vascular wall. In addition, the cell-cell communication between these cell types is also important to consider. This study sought to understand the effect of microgravity on the functionality of both vascular cell types. Overall, the goal of our project was to understand the effect that a low shear stress environment resultant from simulated microgravity has on cardiovascular deconditioning. Our studies show that vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells on microcarrier beads under microgravity in a rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor showed changes in cell processes such as proliferation and secretory function as measured using ELISA assays for endothelin-1, VEGF, and angiotensin-II. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis of endothelial cells cultured under simulated microgravity showed that microgravity exposure resulted in an increase in interleukin-8 and interleukin-6 expression. Both proteins participate in inflammation. Expression of other inflammatory and regulatory genes were investigated including those for: endothelin-1, prostacyclin receptor, nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-6, baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 3, and E-selectin. This study builds on our understanding of the ability of these cells to undergo inflammatory dysfunction in the space environment. Further studies to assess alternate and synergistic mechanisms involved in regulation of cardiovascular health as well as the regulatory interactions between vascular cells under microgravity are required to develop possible cell-based countermeasures to prevent cardiovascular deconditioning due to space travel.

Changes in vascular cell function under conditions of microgravity

2019 Spring National Meeting

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