Testing Lab-on-a-Chip Technology for Culturing Human Melanoma Cells under Simulated Microgravity

Abstract

The dynamic development of the space industry makes space flights more accessible and opens up new opportunities for biological research to better understand cell physiology under real microgravity. Whereas specialized studies in space remain out of our reach, preliminary experiments can be performed on Earth under simulated microgravity (sµg). Based on this concept, we used a 3D-clinostat (3D-C) to analyze the effect of short exposure to sµg on human keratinocytes HaCaT and melanoma cells A375 cultured on all-glass Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC). Our preliminary studies included viability evaluation, mitochondrial and caspase activity, and proliferation assay, enabling us to determine the effect of sµg on human cells. By comparing the results concerning cells cultured on LOCs and standard culture dishes, we were able to confirm the biocompatibility of all-glass LOCs and their potential application in microgravity research on selected human cell lines. Our studies revealed that HaCaT and A375 cells are susceptible to simulated microgravity; however, we observed an increased caspase activity and a decrease of proliferation in cancer cells cultured on LOCs in comparison to standard cell cultures. These results are an excellent basis to conduct further research on the possible application of LOCs systems in cancer research in space.

The Fight against Cancer by Microgravity: The Multicellular Spheroid as a Metastasis Model

“…Last year, Przystupski et al [ 192 ] used a novel lab-on-a-chip approach to investigate the effects of short-term s-µ g (RPM) on A-375 human melanoma cells. Their experiments confirmed typical µ g -related morphological (stress fibers, membrane blebbing, lamellipodia, absence of filopodia) and physiological changes (decrease in cell viability and mitochondrial activity, decreased proliferation, and increase in caspase activity) in cells after short-time exposure to s-µ g .…”

RCCS Bioreactor-Based Modeled Microgravity Affects Gastric Cancer Cells and Improves the Chemotherapeutic Effect

“…Recent studies indicate that altered gravity induces shear stresses at the membrane surface, one of the essential factors in sensitizing cancer cells [ 22 ]. Additionally, our previous study showed morphological changes in cancer cells exposed to MG, i.e., stress fibers, membrane blebbing, and cytoskeleton reorganization [ 23 ]. Our study demonstrated that the altered gravity combined simultaneously with cytostatics (here doxorubicin) might be one of the factors modulating the cellular mechanisms and the phenomenon of drug resistance (MDR) in drug-resistant human cancer cells.…”

Extraterrestrial Gynecology: Could Spaceflight Increase the Risk of Developing Cancer in Female Astronauts? An Updated Review

“…There are multiple environmental factors, such as space radiation and microgravity, which can contribute to possibly increasing any risk of tumor development and the possible underlying cellular mechanisms associated with spaceflight [55]. In addition to the studies reviewed in Moreno-Villanueva and Wu [55], more investigations involving microgravity and radiation have been carried out, as shown in Table 3 [56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63] and Table 4 [64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73], respectively. Although ionizing radiation is a known carcinogen, irradiation with particles in space differs quantitatively and qualitatively from γ-radiation or X-rays [30].…”