Omics Studies of Tumor Cells under Microgravity Conditions

Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults [81]. Collectively, recent studies demonstrated that apoptosis in cultured glia cells, as well as inhibition of proliferation and enhanced sensitivity toward chemicals of glioblastoma cells were induced by µg [82,83]. To investigate the evident effects of µg on glioblastoma cells and how reduced gravity might alter invasion and migration potentials, Shi and colleagues subjected human glioblastoma U87 cells to s-µg using a 2D-clionostat [84]. Importantly, s-µg stimulation significantly reduced the migration and invasion potentials, decreased thapsigargin-induced store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), and downregulated the expression of ORAI1 protein in U87 cells. To further dissect the mechanism behind the observed results, inhibition of SOCE by stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) or 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) was pursued. In both cases inhibition of SOCE in the U87 cells mirrored the effects of s-µg. As overexpression of ORAI1 dramatically reversed the effect of s-µg, the authors suggested that s-µg conditions inhibited the migration and inversion potentials of U87 cells by downregulating the expression of ORAI1 [84].

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