Cell to Cell Interaction of Monocytes and T-Lymphocytes in Microgravity (MIA)
Research Area: Microbiology
Expedition(s): 13
Principal Investigator(s): ● Marianne Cogoli-Greuter, Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Cell to Cell Interaction of Monocytes and T-Lymphocytes in Microgravity (MIA)
investigation determines the effect of microgravity on both the ability of adherent monocytes
to migrate on a surface (motion), as well as to interact with T-cells (interact).
RESULTS
The MIA investigation
demonstrated that adherent
monocytes are not motile in
microgravity; the cytoskeletal
structures of F-actin, β-tubulin
and vinculin are altered in cells
exposed for 24 hours to
microgravity conditions, also in
microgravity an interaction
between T-cells and monocytes
takes place, although to a much
lesser extent. The cytoskeleton
played a major role in the
locomotion of adherent cells but
also in the clustering of the
adhesion proteins LFA-1 and
ICAM-1. The fact that several
cytoskeletal structures are
altered in microgravity may
explain why these cells had a
highly reduced ability of
locomotion and a reduced
interaction between monocytes
and T-cells as observed by the
colocalization of ICAM-1 with
LFA-1.The hypothesis that there is no interaction between T-cells and monocytes in microgravity
could not be confirmed. Despite the fact that monocytes lost their locomotion ability we still
observed an interaction. In earlier investigations we have found that T-cells are highly motile in
microgravity. From the results we can conclude that also in microgravity an interaction
between T-cells and monocytes takes place, although to a much lesser extent. In follow-up
Immunofluorescence images of F-actin (A), β-tubulin (B), and vinculin
(C) in cultured J-111 cells. Right panels, monochromatic and merge
images of samples exposed to RPM for 1 and 24 h. Left panels, 1g
control samples. ESA image.