The Influence of Simulated Microgravity on Purinergic Signaling Is Different between Individual Culture and Endothelial and Smooth Muscle Cell Coculture
Figure 3
P2 Receptor Expression in Endothelial Cells after 24 h under Normal Gravity and Simulated Microgravity. All cells on the surface of flasks were isolated for RT-PCR. P2X5, P2Y4, P2Y11, P2Y13 were up-regulated and P2X7, P2Y1 and P2Y2 were down-regulated in the ECs after 24 h in the clinostat (a). Cells grown within 6 mm of the center had the optimal simulated microgravity condition and were therefore isolated to confirm the above P2 receptor alteration on the RNA (b) and protein (c) level after 24 h simulated microgravity with and without SMC-conditioned medium collected under normal gravity. P2X5 and P2Y11 were up-regulated in ECs but P2X5 up-regulation was not significant on protein level. P2X7, P2Y1, P2Y2 were down-regulated on both gene and protein level. The SMC-conditioned medium can compensate the decrease of P2X7 expression but cause no significant effect on the alteration of P2Y1, P2Y2 and P2Y11. The fluorescent staining confirmed the protein change of P2X7, P2Y1 and P2Y11 (d).
