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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

In Vitro Growth of Mouse Preantral Follicles Under Simulated Microgravity
Published on: December 17, 2017
The subsequent biological effects of simulated microgravity on endothelial cell growth in HUVECs
Dan Xu1, Yu-Bing Guo1, Min Zhang2
1Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
Purpose:
Microgravity is known to cause endothelium dysfunction in astronauts returning from spaceflight. We aimed to reveal the regulatory mechanism in alterations of human endothelial cells after simulated microgravity (SMG).
Methods:
We utilized the rotary cell culture system (RCCS-1) to explore the subsequent effects of SMG on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
Results:
SMG-treated HUVECs appeared obvious growth inhibition after return to normal gravity, which might be attributed to a set of responses including alteration of cytoskeleton, decreased cell adhesion capacity and increased apoptosis. Expression levels of mTOR and its downstream Apaf-1 were increased during subsequent culturing after SMG. miR-22 was up-regulated and its target genes SRF and LAMC1 were down-regulated at mRNA levels. LAMC1 siRNAs reduced cell adhesion rate and inhibited stress fiber formation while SRF siRNAs caused apoptosis.
Conclusion:
SMG has the subsequent biological effects on HUVECs, resulting in growth inhibition through mTOR signaling and miR-22-mediated mechanism.
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