Differential gene expression of human chondrocytes cultured under short-term altered gravity conditions during parabolic flight maneuvers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chondrocytes are the main cellular component of articular cartilage. In healthy tissue, they are embedded in a strong but elastic extracelluar matrix providing resistance against mechanical forces and friction for the joints. Osteoarthritic cartilage, however, disrupted by heavy strain, has only very limited potential to heal. One future possibility to replace damaged cartilage might be the scaffold-free growth of chondrocytes in microgravity to form 3D aggregates.

Results

To prepare for this, we have conducted experiments during the 20th DLR parabolic flight campaign, where we fixed the cells after the first (1P) and the 31st parabola (31P). Furthermore, we subjected chondrocytes to isolated vibration and hypergravity conditions. Microarray and quantitative real

SUBMITTER: Wehland M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4369370 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature