Mechanical culture conditions effect gene expression
To determine the gene expression response to mechanical culture conditions, gene array analysis was performed on primary cultures of human renal cortical cells following various mechanical culture stimuli: flight on the space shuttle for 2 hours, reproduction of the gravity profile of launch, reproduction of the vibration profile of launch, rotating wall vessel optimized suspension culture, and an unstimulated ground control. Cells were fixed, and RNA was extracted on sample recovery, followed by automated gene array analysis of the expression of 10,000 genes. These studies define the activation of gene pathways in response to mechanical culture conditions, and document some common mechanical response elements as well as some highly select condition specific gene expression responses. © 2001 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.
