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Culture of hybridoma and friend leukemia virus transformed cells in microgravity. Spacelab IML‐1 mission
Author(s) -
Bechler Birgitt,
Hunzinger Elisabeth,
Müller Otfried,
Cogoli Augusto
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1016/0248-4900(93)90261-c
Subject(s) - biology , cell growth , cell culture , monoclonal antibody , cell , glutamine , mitotic index , microbiology and biotechnology , hemoglobin , mitosis , biochemistry , antibody , immunology , amino acid , genetics
Summary— The behavior of two mammalian cell lines was investigated in Biorack during the 1st Spacelab international microgravity laboratory flight (IML‐1) in the ESA facility Biorack. The parameters determined were cell proliferation, biosynthesis of specific cell products, consumption of glucose, glutamine and production of ammonia and lactate respectively. Murine Friend leukemia virus‐transformed cells (Friend cells) were induced to differentiate and express hemoglobin (Hg) genes upon induction with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). No change was observed in all metabolic parameters including the production of Hg and the number of Hg‐positive cells. Electron microscopy analysis showed no difference in morphology, mean cell volume and mitotic index between the different cell samples, Murine hybridoma cells revealed an increase (+ 30–40%) of cell proliferation rate in microgravity, whereas the metabolic parameters, production of monoclonal antibodies included, were lower in the 0 g than in the 1 g controls. The results clearly show that not all mammalian cells undergo dramatic changes in microgravity and that the effects reported on human T lymphocytes represent a unique case.