The study of microgravity implications in angiogenesis and stem cell differentiation

Abstract

Tissue or organ failure due to injury or other type of damage is one of the major health problems. Transplantation, surgical repair, artificial prostheses, mechanical devices are used to treat tissue or organ failure with limited success. Biochemical manipulation of cells is the most common technique currently available, however recently biophysical forces such as flow, shear stress, microgravity is increasingly being used to manipulate cells. Among the biophysical forces, microgravity has obtained attention particularly in the field of tissue engineering. Microgravity has been shown to be an ideal environment for cell growth, cell proliferation and organ formation. Microgravity can also stimulate cell secretions, cell proliferation, aggregate formation, protein crystallization without oncogenic transformation. Present study shows that limited microgravity exposure (2-24 h) to in vitro and in ovo models is pro-angiogenic and microgravity is an ideal environment for faster growth and development of vascular tubes. The hepatic stem cells were subjected to microgravity, which was simulated by indigenously fabricated Random Positioning Machine (RPM). Microgravity treatment for 2 h enhanced proliferation of stem cells by 2 fold without inducing apoptosis and compromising cell viability. The present finding approves that microgravity supports both the critical events in tissue regeneration; angiogenesis and cell differentiation. We envisage that the acquired knowledge can be used in clinic, where microgravity activated angiogenesis and stem cells would regenerate the tissues in damaged liver. Further this technology opens new avenues in the treatment of not only damaged liver but also other damaged tissues and organs which have little or no treatment options. newline newline newline