Loss of parafollicular cells during gravitational changes (microgravity, hypergravity) and the secret effect of pleiotrophin

PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e48518. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048518. Epub 2012 Dec 19.

Abstract

It is generally known that bone loss is one of the most important complications for astronauts who are exposed to long-term microgravity in space. Changes in blood flow, systemic hormones, and locally produced factors were indicated as important elements contributing to the response of osteoblastic cells to loading, but research in this field still has many questions. Here, the possible biological involvement of thyroid C cells is being investigated. The paper is a comparison between a case of a wild type single mouse and a over-expressing pleiotrophin single mouse exposed to hypogravity conditions during the first animal experiment of long stay in International Space Station (91 days) and three similar mice exposed to hypergravity (2Gs) conditions. We provide evidence that both microgravity and hypergravity induce similar loss of C cells with reduction of calcitonin production. Pleiotrophin over-expression result in some protection against negative effects of gravity change. Potential implication of the gravity mechanic forces in the regulation of bone homeostasis via thyroid equilibrium is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Count
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Hypergravity / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neuroendocrine Cells / cytology*
  • Space Flight
  • Spacecraft
  • Thyroid Gland / cytology*
  • Weightlessness / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • pleiotrophin

Grants and funding

Italian Space Agenzy. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.