The Influence of Simulated Microgravity on Purinergic Signaling Is Different between Individual Culture and Endothelial and Smooth Muscle Cell Coculture

Figure 6

Effect of EC-Conditioned Medium on SMC Proliferation and Migration. To investigate the SMC proliferation, normal DMEM medium, and EC-conditioned medium under normal gravity (EC CM + 1 g) and simulated microgravity (EC CM + MG), was added and SMCs were subsequently incubated for 24 h and 48 h. Conditioned medium from EC grown under normal gravity (EC CM + 1 g) significantly inhibited SMC proliferation after 24 h and 48 h incubation and conditioned medium from EC grown under simulated microgravity (EC CM + MG) led to a significant decrease of SMC numbers after 24 h, which is not obvious after 48 h (a). To evaluate SMC migration, SMCs were scratched and cultured under normal DMEM medium, EC-conditioned medium under normal gravity and under simulated microgravity for 24 h (b). EC-conditioned medium under normal gravity (EC CM + 1 g) inhibited the SMC migration significantly. Whereas EC-conditioned medium under simulated microgravity (EC CM + MG) enhanced migrated SMC numbers (c).