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Demonstration of feasibility of automated osteoblastic line culture in space flight

Guignandon A, Genty C, Vico L, Lafage-Proust MH, Palle S, Alexandre C

Bone, 1997

Abstract

There is a large body of evidence that microgravity- or immobilization-induced bone loss is mainly related to osteoblastic cell impairment. Osteoblasts are sensitive to increased mechanical stress and could therefore be responsible for unloading-induced bone changes. However, the nature of osteoblast involvement remains unclear. The effects of the space environment on cells have been studied extensively, but little information about anchorage-dependent cell cultures of the 25 different cell types flown in space has been published. We studied the effects of long-term weightlessness on the cell shape of cultured osteoblasts during the Russian Bion 10 space-flight. This experiment required the development of special automatic culture devices (the plunger-box culture system) finalized with the constructors. Multiple feasibility experiments were performed to allow osteoblast culture for 6 days in microgravity. The study revealed plunger-box biocompatibility; optimization of ROS 17/2.8 (mammalian adherent cells) culture under closed conditions (without gas exchange); and transport of viable cells for 5 days. During the 6 days of microgravity, the growth curves of ground controls and cells in space were roughly similar. Alkaline phosphatase activity was enhanced twofold in microgravity. ROS 17/2.8 cell morphology began to change significantly after 4 days of microgravity; they became rounder and covered with microvilli. At the end of the flight, the cells exhibited mixed…

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