Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• Zahra Hajebrahimi

Associate Professor, Aerospace Research Institute

Abstract

Simulated microgravity can change tumor cell adhesion, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. E-cadherin molecule is a cell-to-cell adhesion regulatory molecule whose expression is reduced in most types of cancer cells. In the present study, the expression of the E-cadherin gene in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was studied under simulated microgravity conditions using Clinostat for one and three days using real-time PCR technique and GAPDH as reference gene . Also, the effect of microgravity on cells was evaluated by the MTT test. MTT data showed that microgravity for one and three days has no significant effects on cell proliferation and metabolic activity. Also, microgravity for one day led to a doubling of E-cadherin gene expression. The continuation of microgravity for three days led to a further increase. As a result, microgravity can lead to the reduction of the cancerous phenotype in breast cancer. Therefore, studying cancer cells in a microgravity environment can help us understand the mechanisms that lead to cancer and its progression. Also, these studies can lead to the development of new treatment methods for cancer treatment.

Keywords

• Simulated microgravity
• clinostat
• breast cancer
• MCF-7 cell line
• E-cadherin gene

Main Subjects

• cellular-molecular biology