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Published Online: 15 June 2018

Continuous Exposure to Simulated Hypergravity-Induced Changes in Proliferation, Morphology, and Gene Expression of Human Tendon Cells

Publication: Stem Cells and Development
Volume 27, Issue Number 12

Abstract

Gravity influences physical and biological processes, especially during development and homeostasis of several tissues in the human body. Studies under altered gravity have been receiving great attention toward a better understanding of microgravity-, hypogravity (<1 g)-, or hypergravity (>1 g)-induced alterations. In this work, the influence of simulated hypergravity over human tendon-derived cells (hTDCs) was studied at 5, 10, 15, and 20 g for 4 or 16 h, using a large diameter centrifuge. Main results showed that 16 h of simulated hypergravity limited cell proliferation. Cell area was higher in hTDCs cultured at 5, 10, and 15 g for 16 h, in comparison to 1 g control. Actin filaments were more pronounced in hTDCs cultured at 5 and 10 g for 16 h. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) was mainly expressed in focal adhesion sites upon hypergravity stimulation, in comparison to perinuclear localization in control cells after 16 h; and FAK number/cell increased with increasing g-levels. A tendency toward an upregulation of tenogenic markers was observed; scleraxis (SCX), tenascin C (TNC), collagen type III (COL3A1), and decorin (DCN) were significantly upregulated in hTDCs cultured at 15 g and COL3A1 and DCN were significantly upregulated in hTDCs cultured at 20 g. Overall, simulated hypergravity affected the behavior of hTDCs, with more pronounced effects in the long-term period (16 h) of stimulation.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Stem Cells and Development
Stem Cells and Development
Volume 27Issue Number 12June 15, 2018
Pages: 858 - 869
PubMed: 29649412

History

Published in print: June 15, 2018
Published online: 15 June 2018
Published ahead of print: 17 April 2018
Published ahead of production: 16 March 2018
Accepted: 16 March 2018
Received: 9 October 2017

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Authors

Affiliations

Raquel Costa-Almeida
3B's Research Group—Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.
ICVS/3B's—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
Daniel T.O. Carvalho
FEUP—Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Miguel J.S. Ferreira
FEUP—Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Tamagno Pesqueira
3B's Research Group—Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.
ICVS/3B's—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
Monica Monici
ASA Campus Joint Laboratory, ASA Research Division, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio,” University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Jack J.W.A. van Loon
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Oral Pathology, VU-University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
ESTEC, TEC-MMG-Lab, European Space Agency (ESA), Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
Pedro L. Granja
FEUP—Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Manuela E. Gomes
3B's Research Group—Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.
ICVS/3B's—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
The Discoveries Centre for Regenerative and Precision Medicine, Headquarters at University of Minho, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal.

Notes

Address correspondence to:Dr. Manuela E. Gomes3B's Research Group–BiomaterialsBiodegradables and BiomimeticsHeadquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineUniversity of MinhoAvePark–Parque de Ciência e TecnologiaZona Industrial da GandraBarcoGuimarães 4805-017Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]

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No competing financial interests exist.

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