Reduction of anabolic signals and alteration of osteoblast nuclear morphology in microgravity

Bone loss has been repeatedly documented in astronauts after flight, yet little is known about the mechanism of bone loss in space flight. Osteoblasts were activated during space flight in microgravity (microg) with and without a 1 gravity (1 g) field and 24 genes were analyzed for early induction. Induction of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta), cyclo-oxygenase-2 (cox-2), cpla2, osteocalcin (OC), c-myc, fibroblast growth factor-2 (fgf-2), bcl2, bax, and fgf-2 message as well as FGF-2 protein were significantly depressed in microg when compared to ground (gr). Artificial onboard gravity normalized the induction of c-myc, cox-2, TGFbeta, bax, bcl2, and fgf-2 message as well as FGF-2 protein synthesis in spaceflight samples. In normal gravity, FGF-2 induces bcl2 expression; we found that bcl2 expression was significantly reduced in microgravity conditions. Since nuclear shape is known to elongate in the absence of mitogens like FGF-2, we used high-resolution image-based morphometry to characterize changes in osteoblast nuclear architecture under microgravity, 1 g flight, and ground conditions. Besides changes in cell shape (roundish/elliptic), other high-resolution analyses show clear influences of gravity on the inner nuclear structure. These changes occur in the texture, arrangement, and contrast of nuclear particles and mathematical modeling defines the single cell classification of the osteoblasts. Changes in nuclear structure were evident as early as 24 h after exposure to microgravity. This documented alteration in nuclear architecture may be a direct result of decreased expression of autocrine and cell cycle genes, suggesting an inhibition of anabolic response in microg. Life on this planet has evolved in a normal gravity field and these data suggest that gravity plays a significant role in regulation of osteoblast transcription.