SPACEFLIGHT OF HUVEC: AN INTEGRATED EXPERIMENT (SPHINX)
Research Area: Cellular Biology
Expedition(s): 25 and 26
Principal Investigator(s): ● Silvia Bradamante, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The SPaceflight of Huvec: an Integrated eXperiment (SPHINX) examines growth changes in
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC), ie, the cells that line the interior of blood
vessel, when exposed to microgravity. This 10-day study which consisted of 12 in-flight and 12
ground-based control modules is important to maintaining crew health during long-duration
space exploration.
RESULTS
Postflight microarray analysis revealed 1 023 significantly modulated genes, the majority of
which are involved in cell adhesion, oxidative phosphorylation, stress responses, cell cycle, and
apoptosis. Thioredoxin-interacting protein was the most up-regulated (33-fold), heat-shock
proteins 70 and 90 the most down-regulated (5.6-fold). Ion channels (TPCN1, KCNG2, KCNJ14,
KCNG1, KCNT1, TRPM1, CLCN4, CLCA2), mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and focal
adhesion were widely affected. Cytokine detection in the culture media indicated significant
increased secretion of interleukin-1α and interleukin-1β. Nitric oxide was found not modulated.
Our data suggest that in cultured HUVECs, microgravity affects the same molecular machinery
responsible for sensing alterations of flow and generates a pro-oxidative environment that
activates inflammatory responses, alters endothelial behavior, and promotes senescence.
PUBLICATION(S)
Versari S, Longinotti G, Barenghi L, Maier JA, Bradamante S. The challenging environment on
board the International Space Station affects endothelial cell function by triggering oxidative
stress through thioredoxin interacting protein overexpression: The ESA-SPHINX experiment.
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. November
2013;27(11):4466-4475. doi: 10.1096/fj.13-229195.
Versari S, Maier JA, Norfini A, Zolesi V, Bradamante S. SPaceflight of Huvec: An Integrated
eXperiment - SPHINX onboard the ISS. 2012 Life in Space for Life on Earth Symposium,
Aberdeen, United Kingdom; June 18-22, 2012.
This investigation is complete and all results are published.