Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Inflammatory biomarker-based prognostic model for immunotherapy outcomes in patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.

Frontiers in oncology·2026
Same author

Screening and Identification of Novel Peony Seed Peptides with High Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Activities: Enzymolysis, In vitro Digestion and Molecular Docking.

Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)·2026
Same author

PhenolFingerprint DB: an open-access platform for phenolic fingerprinting, quantification, and automated species authentication, validated on 93 floral and herbal plants.

Food chemistry·2026
Same author

Dietary yacon concentrate reshapes microbial-metabolite crosstalk to inhibit colorectal cancer.

NPJ science of food·2026
Same author

Tailoring the Cu Local Microenvironment to Create Formate Conversion-Desorption Equilibrium for Industrial Level Formaldehyde Electrooxidation.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026
Same author

Xylitol ameliorates ASD-like behavior in <i>Chd8</i><sup>+/-</sup> mice <i>via</i> modulations of the gut microbiome, neurotransmitters, and dendritic spine morphology.

Food & function·2026
Same journal

Machine learning ensemble reveals distinct molecular pathways of retinal damage in spaceflown mice.

NPJ microgravity·2026
Same journal

Time-averaged simulated microgravity ameliorates tau-induced deficit in Drosophila melanogaster.

NPJ microgravity·2026
Same journal

The impact of 14-day head-down bed rest with or without an exercise countermeasure on standing balance control: a randomized controlled trial.

NPJ microgravity·2026
Same journal

Simulated microgravity weakens wheat root microbial network against pathogens.

NPJ microgravity·2026
Same journal

Effects of the space environment on articular cartilage homeostasis: a review.

NPJ microgravity·2026
Same journal

Communication delay increases procedure time and instructor task load during simulated suturing by novices.

NPJ microgravity·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Microglia as a Surrogate Biosensor to Determine Nanoparticle Neurotoxicity
08:37

Microglia as a Surrogate Biosensor to Determine Nanoparticle Neurotoxicity

Published on: October 25, 2016

7.5K

Simulated microgravity affects neuronal synaptic plasticity by regulating microglial pro-inflammatory activation.

Xuechai Chen1, Chunsen Yuan2, Zihan Li2

  • 1Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China. chenxuechai@bjut.edu.cn.

NPJ Microgravity
|February 26, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Simulated microgravity activates microglia, initiating neuroinflammation via Arhgap18 downregulation. This microglial activation impacts neuronal synaptic plasticity, suggesting a link between spaceflight conditions and brain health.

More Related Videos

Characterization and Isolation of Mouse Primary Microglia by Density Gradient Centrifugation
10:21

Characterization and Isolation of Mouse Primary Microglia by Density Gradient Centrifugation

Published on: February 16, 2018

20.4K
Author Spotlight: In Vitro Co-Culture Model for Studying Microglia-Neuronal Interactions in Disease Conditions
08:47

Author Spotlight: In Vitro Co-Culture Model for Studying Microglia-Neuronal Interactions in Disease Conditions

Published on: July 26, 2024

3.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Microglia as a Surrogate Biosensor to Determine Nanoparticle Neurotoxicity
08:37

Microglia as a Surrogate Biosensor to Determine Nanoparticle Neurotoxicity

Published on: October 25, 2016

7.5K
Characterization and Isolation of Mouse Primary Microglia by Density Gradient Centrifugation
10:21

Characterization and Isolation of Mouse Primary Microglia by Density Gradient Centrifugation

Published on: February 16, 2018

20.4K
Author Spotlight: In Vitro Co-Culture Model for Studying Microglia-Neuronal Interactions in Disease Conditions
08:47

Author Spotlight: In Vitro Co-Culture Model for Studying Microglia-Neuronal Interactions in Disease Conditions

Published on: July 26, 2024

3.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Space Biology

Background:

  • Microglia are the primary immune cells in the central nervous system.
  • Microglia are sensitive to environmental changes and insults.
  • Understanding microglial responses to microgravity is crucial for astronaut health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of simulated microgravity on microglial activation.
  • To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying microglial activation under microgravity.
  • To assess the impact of microgravity-induced microglial activation on neuronal function.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized BV2 microglial cell cultures under simulated microgravity.
  • Investigated the role of RhoA GTPase Arhgap18 in microglial activation.
  • Employed a 21-day hindlimb unloading (HU) mouse model for in vivo studies.
  • Performed co-culture experiments with N2a neural cells and activated microglia.

Main Results:

  • Simulated microgravity induced pro-inflammatory activation of BV2 microglial cells.
  • Downregulation of Arhgap18 was identified as the upstream mechanism driving microglial activation via the Arhgap18/RhoA/ROCK pathway.
  • In vivo hindlimb unloading confirmed pro-inflammatory microglial activation in the mouse brain.
  • Pro-inflammatory microglia impaired N2a cell morphology and reduced synaptic plasticity proteins.

Conclusions:

  • Microgravity promotes pro-inflammatory microglial activation, mediated by Arhgap18 downregulation.
  • Activated microglia under microgravity conditions negatively affect neuronal synaptic plasticity.
  • These findings highlight a potential mechanism linking microgravity-induced neuroinflammation to changes in brain function.