Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Justina Joksiene, Jayashree Sahana, Markus Wehland, Herbert Schulz, Jose Luis Cortes-Sanchez, Judit Prat-Duran, Daniela Grimm, Ulf Simonsen
Summary: A diabetogenic state induced by spaceflight causes stress and health problems in astronauts. Microgravity is a main stressor in space that leads to hyperglycaemia. The molecular pathways and synergistic effects of microgravity and hyperglycaemia are not fully understood.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paolo Degan, Katia Cortese, Alessandra Pulliero, Silvia Bruno, Maria Cristina Gagliani, Matteo Congiu, Alberto Izzotti
Summary: The exposure of A549 cells to microgravity causes the generation of polynucleated cells, cell cycle imbalance, growth inhibition, and morphological abnormalities, especially in damaged mitochondria. Global miRNA analysis reveals miRNAs associated with mu G mainly involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and stress response.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Truong Xuan Dai, Hoang Nghia Son, Ho Nguyen Quynh Chi, Hoang Nghia Quang Huy, Nguyen Thai Minh, Nguyen Thi Thuy Tram, Nguyen Thi Thuong Huyen, To Minh Quan, Doan Chinh Chung, Truong Hai Nhung, Tran Thi Minh, Tran Hong Diem, Nguyen Thi Phuong Mai, Le Thanh Long
Summary: This study found that simulated microgravity affected the proliferation and morphology of porcine granulosa cells, inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing changes in cell morphology.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Dorothea Dietrichs, Daniela Grimm, Jayashree Sahana, Daniela Melnik, Thomas J. Corydon, Markus Wehland, Marcus Krueger, Randy Vermeesen, Bjorn Baselet, Sarah Baatout, Trine Engelbrecht Hybel, Stefan Kahlert, Herbert Schulz, Manfred Infanger, Sascha Kopp
Summary: Prostate cancer cells (PC-3) were found to form three-dimensional multicellular spheroids under simulated microgravity conditions. The expression of certain cytokines increased in the spheroid group as well as the adherent monolayer group. The secretion of collagen and fibronectin decreased, while the secretion of IL-6 increased in the spheroid group. These findings suggest the involvement of cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8 in the growth and progression of prostate cancer cells.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yijuan Han, Dongyan Shao, Cuicui Han, Qingsheng Huang, Wen Zhao
Summary: The present study used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the impact of microgravity on human gut microbiota in vitro. The results showed that microgravity significantly altered the richness and diversity of the microbiota. Certain bacteria related to anti-inflammatory effects decreased in abundance, while others increased. Microgravity also affected the metabolism of the gut microbiota. These findings suggest that exposure to a microgravity environment can disrupt the gut microbiota.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mei ElGindi, Jiranuwat Sapudom, Praveen Laws, Anna Garcia-Sabate, Mohammed F. Daqaq, Jeremy Teo
Summary: This study investigates the effects of simulated microgravity on circulating and tissue-resident T cells. By comparing the differences between 2D and 3D cell culture, it was found that the 3D cell culture mitigates some of the adverse effects of simulated microgravity on T cells. Additionally, activated T cells seem to be less affected by simulated microgravity.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Liubov E. Amirova, Anastasija Plehuna, Ilya Rukavishnikov, Alina A. Saveko, Aleko Peipsi, Elena S. Tomilovskaya
Summary: This study aimed to assess changes in muscle tone in a microgravity environment, using the MyotonPRO device to measure multiple muscles. Variations in muscle tone responses were observed among different muscles in Dry Immersion experiments.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guohua Ji, Hui Chang, Mingsi Yang, Hailong Chen, Tingmei Wang, Xu Liu, Ke Lv, Yinghui Li, Bo Song, Lina Qu
Summary: Aerospace microgravity environment can lead to cognitive function decline, possibly due to mitochondrial dysfunction. This study simulated the microgravity environment and observed changes in mitochondrial morphology and metabolic function in the hippocampus of rats. Differential expression of proteins related to mitochondrial metabolic processes was identified.
Article
Microbiology
Yahao Wang, Wenlong Shen, Man Yin, Wenhua Huang, Bingyu Ye, Ping Li, Shu Shi, Ge Bai, Xinjie Guo, Yifei Jin, Kailin Lin, Yan Zhang, Yongqiang Jiang, Junfeng Wang, Yanping Han, Zhihu Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the driving mechanism behind the phenotypic changes of Klebsiella pneumoniae subpopulations under simulated microgravity (SMG) and found that these changes may be associated with changes in genome higher-order structure and DNA methylation.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takahiro Tanimoto, Kentaro Endo, Yuriko Sakamaki, Nobutake Ozeki, Hisako Katano, Mitsuru Mizuno, Hideyuki Koga, Ichiro Sekiya
Summary: This study confirms the adhesion of synovial stem cells to degenerated cartilage and shows that the adhesion increases over time. The study also observes morphological changes in the stem cells during the adhesion process, transitioning from microspikes to pseudopodia.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Angela Masini, Valentina Bonetto, Marcello Manfredi, Anna Pasto, Elettra Barberis, Sara Timo, Virginia Vita Vanella, Elisa Robotti, Francesca Masetto, Francesca Andreoli, Alessandra Fiore, Sara Tavella, Antonio Sica, Massimo Donadelli, Emilio Marengo
Summary: The absence of gravity has significant impact on cancer cells, affecting their morphology, metabolism, and phenotype. Simulated microgravity can activate cellular motility pathways and enhance the migratory capability of tumor cells. Additionally, the absence of gravity can alter metabolic pathways, promoting the survival and proliferation of cancer cells.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Ana Ramos-Nascimento, Lucia Grenga, Sven-Bastiaan Haange, Alexandra Himmelmann, Franca Sabine Arndt, Yen-Tran Ly, Guylaine Miotello, Olivier Pible, Nico Jehmlich, Beatrice Engelmann, Martin von Bergen, Edwin Mulder, Petra Frings-Meuthen, Christine Elisabeth Hellweg, Jens Jordan, Ulrike Rolle-Kampczyk, Jean Armengaud, Ralf Moeller
Summary: The AGBRESA study examined the effect of simulated weightlessness on the human body and explored the potential benefits of artificial gravity. The study found that simulated microgravity had a mild impact on the gut microbiome, but countermeasure protocols increased the abundance of beneficial short-chain fatty acids. Monitoring the gut microbiome and metabolite profiling can provide valuable information about health disturbances and the outcome of countermeasure protocols.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Minh Thi Tran, Chung Chinh Doan, Son Nghia Hoang, Cang Ngoc Ly, Mai Thi Phuong Nguyen, Quan Minh To, Nhung Hai Truong, Chi Nguyen Quynh Ho, Long Thanh Le
Summary: This research studied the impact of simulated microgravity on cell division in CCL-13 cells and found that simulated microgravity led to changes in cell cycle, nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, and cell division structures.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Petra M. Wise, Jayashree Sahana, Paolo Neviani, Thomas Juhl Corydon, Herbert Schulz, Markus Wehland, Manfred Infanger, Daniela Grimm
Summary: Breast cancer is a major global health issue, with high incidence and mortality rates. Extracellular vesicles have been found to play a crucial role in tumor biology by transmitting information between cells. A study analyzed the supernatants of breast cancer cells incubated under simulated microgravity and found a significant increase in released vesicles. This research provides insights into tumor progression, metastasis, and adaptation to space environments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Dawid Przystupski, Agata Gorska, Olga Michel, Agnieszka Podwin, Patrycja Sniadek, Radoslaw Lapczynski, Jolanta Saczko, Julita Kulbacka
Summary: This study explored the use of all-glass Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) platforms for cancer cell research under simulated microgravity conditions. By designing a 3D clinostat and testing human keratinocytes and melanoma cells on LOCs, the study established the feasibility of utilizing LOCs in microgravity research on specific cell lines.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Linnea Hojer Wang, Markus Wehland, Petra M. M. Wise, Manfred Infanger, Daniela Grimm, Michael C. C. Kreissl
Summary: This manuscript investigates four tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), cabozantinib, vandetanib, pralsetinib, and selpercatinib, used for treating advanced and/or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). The focus is on treatment-related hypertension, a well-known adverse effect (AE) of these TKIs. While TKI-induced hypertension is rarely a dose-limiting side effect, complications associated with hypertension can increase with longer patient survival without proper medication.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Thomas J. Corydon, Herbert Schulz, Peter Richter, Sebastian M. Strauch, Maik Boehmer, Dario A. Ricciardi, Markus Wehland, Marcus Krueger, Gilmar S. Erzinger, Michael Lebert, Manfred Infanger, Petra M. Wise, Daniela Grimm
Summary: Microgravity has a significant impact on the health of space explorers, affecting cell proliferation, differentiation, and growth. With the planning of deep space exploration and the commercialization of space travel, researchers are focusing on gene regulation in cells and organisms exposed to real and simulated microgravity. Cancer and metastasis research in particular benefit from these findings.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Urjosee Sahana, Markus Wehland, Ulf Simonsen, Herbert Schulz, Daniela Grimm
Summary: Despite recent advances in HF therapy, CV mortality, morbidity, and HFH remain challenges. Vericiguat activates sGC to improve CV function and has shown efficacy in reducing CV death and HFH in HFrEF patients. However, it has no therapeutic effect on HFpEF. Common adverse events of vericiguat include hypotension, syncope, and anemia. Larger studies are needed to investigate the potential effect in HFpEF patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniela Grimm
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jakob Haldrup, Sofie Andersen, Alexander Rafael LaVilla Labial, Jonas Holst Wolff, Frederik Plum Frandsen, Thomas Wisbech Skov, Anne Bruun Rovsing, Ian Nielsen, Thomas Stax Jakobsen, Anne Louise Askou, Martin K. Thomsen, Thomas J. Corydon, Emil Aagaard Thomsen, Jacob Giehm Mikkelsen
Summary: Effective delivery of gene editing tools in therapeutic in vivo gene editing using CRISPR/Cas can be achieved by engineering lentivirus-derived nanoparticles (LVNPs) as carriers for Cas protein and single guide RNA (sgRNA). LVNPs facilitate precise and efficient gene editing with reduced off-target cleavage activity, making them promising vehicles for in vivo gene disruption. The proof-of-concept study in mice demonstrates the potential of LVNPs for donor-free base and prime editing without double-stranded DNA breaks.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francesca Cialdai, Austin M. Brown, Cory W. Baumann, Debora Angeloni, Sarah Baatout, Alexandra Benchoua, Juergen Bereiter-Hahn, Daniele Bottai, Judith-Irina Buchheim, Marco Calvaruso, Eugenie Carnero-Diaz, Sara Castiglioni, Duccio Cavalieri, Gabriele Ceccarelli, Alexander Chouker, Gianni Ciofani, Giuseppe Coppola, Gabriella Cusella, Andrea Degl'Innocenti, Jean-Francois Desaphy, Jean-Pol Frippiat, Michael Gelinsky, Giada Genchi, Maria Grano, Daniela Grimm, Alain Guignandon, Christiane Hahn, Jason Hatton, Raul Herranz, Christine E. Hellweg, Carlo Saverio Iorio, Thodoris Karapantsios, Jack van Loon, Matteo Lulli, Jeanette Maier, Jos Malda, Emina Mamaca, Lucia Morbidelli, Angelique van Ombergen, Andreas Osterman, Aleksandr Ovsianikov, Francesco Pampaloni, Elizabeth Pavezlorie, Veronica Pereda-Campos, Cyrille Przybyla, Christopher Puhl, Petra Rettberg, Chiara Risaliti, Angela Maria Rizzo, Kate Robson-Brown, Leonardo Rossi, Giorgio Russo, Alessandra Salvetti, Daniela Santucci, Matthias Sperl, Felice Strollo, Kevin Tabury, Sara Tavella, Christiane Thielemann, Ronnie Willaert, Nathaniel J. Szewczyk, Monica Monici
Summary: This white paper presents the indications and recommendations of the SciSpacE Science Community on filling the gaps of knowledge regarding the effects of gravity alterations on animal and human systems at a cellular and tissue level. Despite previous studies, a comprehensive integrated model of the changes occurring at different system and functional levels is still lacking, making it difficult to predict the long-term consequences of human adaptation to the space environment and implement effective medical support plans.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvana Miranda, Shannon Marchal, Lina Cumps, Jenne Dierckx, Marcus Kruger, Daniela Grimm, Sarah Baatout, Kevin Tabury, Bjorn Baselet
Summary: The lunar dust problem arose from NASA's Apollo missions in 1969, as exposure to lunar dust became unavoidable. Several astronauts suffered allergy-like symptoms due to lunar dust inhalation. Research into the toxic effects of lunar dust gained significant interest and expanded to include other organ systems. With plans for future moon missions and potentially Mars missions, dust mitigation strategies are crucial for sustainable space exploration.
Article
Ophthalmology
Thomas Stax Jakobsen, Jakob Appel ostergaard, Mads Kjolby, Elisa Lund Birch, Toke Bek, Anders Nykjaer, Thomas J. Corydon, Anne Louise Askou
Summary: The level and localization of the multifunctional receptor sortilin in the diabetic retina were investigated, and the effect of sortilin inhibition on retinal neurodegeneration in experimental diabetes was studied. Increased levels of sortilin were observed in human and murine diabetic retinas, and sortilin was highly localized to retinal Muller cells. Sortilin inhibition effectively protected against neuronal loss in diabetic mice by reducing inner retinal thickness and the count of retinal ganglion cells.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Niklas S. Jensen, Markus Wehland, Petra M. Wise, Daniela Grimm
Summary: Hypertension is a major global health burden, with an increasing prevalence due to aging populations and sedentary lifestyles. While there is evidence of the role of vitamin D in regulating blood pressure, its direct antihypertensive effect remains unclear. However, supplementing vitamin D in combination with other antihypertensive agents may have promising results.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jayashree Sahana, Jose Luis Cortes-Sanchez, Viviann Sandt, Daniela Melnik, Thomas J. Corydon, Herbert Schulz, Zexi Cai, Katja Evert, Daniela Grimm, Markus Wehland
Summary: This study cultured breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 under simulated microgravity conditions and investigated the gene expression pattern and cellular signaling pathways involved. The results showed that the engineered three-dimensional multicellular spheroid model can be used to study breast cancer cell behavior and evaluate the efficacy of drugs against breast cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Jose Luis Cortes-Sanchez, Daniela Melnik, Viviann Sandt, Stefan Kahlert, Shannon Marchal, Ian R. D. Johnson, Marco Calvaruso, Christian Liemersdorf, Simon L. Wuest, Daniela Grimm, Marcus Krueger
Summary: In the preparation of space and microgravity experiments, the use of ground-based facilities for initial experiments and feasibility studies is common. One approach to simulate microgravity conditions on Earth is to use a random positioning machine (RPM) as a rotary bioreactor. Combined with a suitable low-mass model system, such as cell cultures, these devices have been shown to produce results similar to those obtained in actual space experiments under real microgravity conditions. The RPM serves as a simulator of microgravity by randomizing the impact of Earth's gravity vector especially for suspended cells, and it also simulates physiological shear forces on the adherent cell layer.
