A considerable amount of attention has been focused on the physiological factors that are responsible for the reduction of bone mineralization and mass during prolonged periods in the microgravity environment. Although bone mineralization can be reduced by one percent per month as shown to result from shuttle flights and Mir habitation, the reasons for this phenomenon remain unclear. Changes in specific markers of bone cells upon differentiation indicate that the induction of bone matrix formation is dependent upon these cells reaching confluency. In our laboratory, we have isolated a reversible inhibitor of cellular growth (CeReS-18) that could be important in cell contact inhibition and thus may mimic the signals involved in growth confluency. Preliminary experiments with osteogenic cells have revealed the potential capability of CeReS-18 to inhibit these cells in a reversible manner. We are developing a series of studies, designed at the cellular level, to quantitatively measure the production of bone matrix by osteogenic cells propagated in culture. The use of CeReS-18 would facilitate the study of several factors being assessed regarding matrix formation including the rate of cell population density, hormone induction events, calcium availability, and cell cycle arest. The studies are being conducted in a manner that will allow comparable measurements in the microgravity environment with flight hardware designed and deployed by BioServe Space Technologies.
Model system for studies on bone matrix formation by osteogenic cells in microgravity
Space technology and applications international forum - 1998 ; 1998 ; Albuquerque,New Mexico (USA)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 420 , 1 ; 622-626
1998-01-15
5 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
A Model System for Studies on Bone Matrix Formation by Osteogenic Cells in Microgravity
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