Alteration Of Cytoskeleton Morphology And Gene Expression In Human Breast Cancer Cells Under Simulated Microgravity

Objective Weightlessness simulation due to the simulated microgravity has been shown to considerably affect behavior of tumor cells. It is aim of this study to evaluate characteristics of human breast cancer cells in this scaffold- free 3D culture model. Materials And Methods In this experimental study, the cells were exposed to simulated microgravity in a random- positioning machine (RPM) for five days. Morphology was observed under phase-contrast and confocal microscopy. Cytofilament staining was performed and changes in expression level of cytofilament genes, proliferation/differentiation genes, oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), followed by western blot confirmation. Results After five days, distinct spheroid formation was observed. Rearrangement of the cytoskeleton into spherical shape was visible. VIM gene expression was significantly up-regulated for adherent cells and spheroids (3.3x and 3.6x respectively, P