Abstract
We investigated the dynamics of immediate and initial gene expression response to different gravitational environments in human Jurkat T lymphocytic cells and compared expression profiles to identify potential gravity-regulated genes and adaptation processes. We used the Affymetrix GeneChip® Human Transcriptome Array 2.0 containing 44,699 protein coding genes and 22,829 non-protein coding genes and performed the experiments during a parabolic flight and a suborbital ballistic rocket mission to cross-validate gravity-regulated gene expression through independent research platforms and different sets of control experiments to exclude other factors than alteration of gravity. We found that gene expression in human T cells rapidly responded to altered gravity in the time frame of 20 s and 5 min. The initial response to microgravity involved mostly regulatory RNAs. We identified three gravity-regulated genes which could be cross-validated in both completely independent experiment missions: ATP6V1A/D, a vacuolar H + -ATPase (V-ATPase) responsible for acidification during bone resorption, IGHD3-3/IGHD3-10, diversity genes of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus participating in V(D)J recombination, and LINC00837, a long intergenic non-protein coding RNA. Due to the extensive and rapid alteration of gene expression associated with regulatory RNAs, we conclude that human cells are equipped with a robust and efficient adaptation potential when challenged with altered gravitational environments.
Highlights
® GeneChip Human Transcriptome Array 2.0 containing 44,699 protein coding genes and 22,829 non-protein coding genes and performed the experiments during a parabolic flight and a suborbital ballistic rocket mission to cross-validate gravity-regulated gene expression through independent research platforms and different sets of control experiments to exclude other factors than alteration of gravity
We investigated the time-course of the whole transcriptome response after alteration of the gravitational force in a parabolic flight and suborbital ballistic rocket experiment campaign
Gene expression studies are indispensable for investigation and elucidation of molecular mechanisms, and whole genome expression profiles are offering the possibility to obtain an insight into networks and pathways of biomolecular interactions on a large-scale
Summary
® GeneChip Human Transcriptome Array 2.0 containing 44,699 protein coding genes and 22,829 non-protein coding genes and performed the experiments during a parabolic flight and a suborbital ballistic rocket mission to cross-validate gravity-regulated gene expression through independent research platforms and different sets of control experiments to exclude other factors than alteration of gravity. To analyze the immediate and initial response of gene expression to the different gravitational forces will help to identify primary gravity-regulated genes, while the investigation of time-effects in gene expression will contribute to an understanding of potential physiological fast adaptive responses to new gravity environments For this reason, we investigated the time-course of the whole transcriptome response after alteration of the gravitational force in a parabolic flight and suborbital ballistic rocket experiment campaign. During the first Spacelab mission, in vitro experiments confirmed a strongly impaired response of lymphocytes to proliferative stimuli under space conditions[6] In this pioneering study more than thirty years ago, lymphocytes demonstrated less than 3% activation after Concanavalin A stimulation in microgravity compared to 1 g controls, and an almost doubled proliferation rate when exposed to 10 g6. The mechanisms underlying gravity-regulated cellular responses are still unknown
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