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Effects of angular frequency during clinorotation on mesenchymal stem cell morphology and migration
Carlos Luna1, Alvin G Yew2, Adam H Hsieh1,3
1Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
NPJ Microgravity
|July 21, 2017
Summary
Simulated microgravity affects human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), causing rounded shapes and reduced migration. Higher clinorotation speeds amplify these effects, impacting cell behavior and motility.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
- Space medicine
Background:
- Simulated microgravity using clinostats mimics weightlessness.
- Clinostats reorient specimens to nullify gravity's effects.
- Investigated clinorotation speed effects on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs).
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine short-term effects of simulated microgravity on hMSC behavior.
- Analyze how clinorotation speed influences hMSC morphology, cytoarchitecture, and migration.
- Utilize time-lapse microscopy for real-time observation.
Main Methods:
- Compared hMSC responses at 0, 30, 60, and 75 rpm clinorotation speeds for 8 hours.
- Employed a lab-on-chip clinostat system with time-lapse light microscopy.
- Assessed cell morphology, cytoarchitecture (actin/vinculin staining), and chemotaxis in NGF gradients.
Main Results:
- Increased clinorotation speed inhibited cell spreading (P<0.005).
- Cells at 75 rpm remained viable and could re-spread post-clinorotation.
- Clinorotation compromised hMSC motility in chemotaxis assays, causing cell retraction.
Conclusions:
- hMSCs adopt rounded, less-spread morphologies under clinorotation.
- Cellular response to changing gravity depends on the rate of perturbation (angular frequency).
- Clinorotation significantly reduces hMSC motility and alters migration patterns.
