Diamagnetic Levitation Causes Changes in Actin Architecture and Actin-Binding Proteins in Bone Cells

Abstract

Diamagnetic levitation technology is a novel approach for simulated weightlessness and has only recently been applied in biological research. We have developed a superconducting magnet platform with large gradient high magnetic field (LG-HMF), which can provide three apparent gravity levels, namely μ-g (diamagnetic levitation), 1-g, and 2-g for diamagnetic materials. Here we studied the effects of LG-HMF on the morphology of actin cytoskeleton and the expression of actin-binding protein vinculin, paxillin, talin and MACF1 (microtubule actin crosslinking factor) in bone cells. The results showed that LG-HMF treatment of 48 hours had no acute lethal effects on both osteoblast-like and osteocyte-like cells. Compared to the nature 1-g control, μ-g significantly altered the cell shape, actin cytoskeleton structure (Fig 1), and the distribution and expression of actin-binding proteins in bone cells. In contrast, LG-HMF-produced 1-g and 2-g apparent gravity did not have such effects on bone cells. The results indicate that bone cells are sensitive to microgravity and vinculin, paxillin, talin and MACF1 may be involved in the mechanosensation and adaptation of bone cells. The diamagnetic levitation system provides a novel ground-based microgravity simulator for cell biological studies.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide