Fibroblast Differentiation and Matrix Remodeling Impaired under Simulated Microgravity in 3D Cell Culture Model.

ABSTRACT: Exposure to microgravity affects astronauts' health in adverse ways. However, less is known about the extent to which fibroblast differentiation during the wound healing process is affected by the lack of gravity. One of the key steps of this process is the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, which contribute functionally through extracellular matrix production and remodeling. In this work, we utilized collagen-based three-dimensional (3D) matrices to mimic interstitial tissue and studied fibroblast differentiation under simulated microgravity (sµG). Our results demonstrated that alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression and translocation of Smad2/3 into the cell nucleus were reduced upon exposure to sµG compared to the 1g control, which suggests the impairment of fibrobl

SUBMITTER: Sapudom J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8584780 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature