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Hindawi, BioMed Research International, (2014), p. 1-8, 2014

DOI: 10.1155/2014/470253

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Lung Cancer Stem Cell Lose Their Stemness Default State after Exposure to Microgravity

Journal article published in 2014 by Maria Elena Pisanu, Alessia Noto, Claudia De Vitis, Maria Grazia Masiello, Pierpaolo Coluccia, Sara Proietti, Maria Rosaria Giovagnoli, Alberto Ricci ORCID, Enrico Giarnieri, Alessandra Cucina ORCID, Gennaro Ciliberto, Mariano Bizzarri ORCID, Rita Mancini
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Microgravity influences cell differentiation by modifying the morphogenetic field in which stem cells are embedded. Preliminary data showed indeed that stem cells are committed to selective differentiation when exposed to real or simulated microgravity. Our study provides evidence that a similar event occurs when cancer stem cells (CSCs) are cultured in microgravity. In the same time, a significant increase in apoptosis was recorded: those data point out that microgravity rescues CSCs from their relative quiescent state, inducing CSCs to lose their stemness features, as documented by the decrease in ALDH and the downregulation of both Nanog and Oct-4 genes. Those traits were stably acquired and preserved by CSCs when cells were placed again on a 1 g field. Studies conducted in microgravity on CSCs may improve our understanding of the fundamental role exerted by biophysical forces in cancer cell growth and function.