Journal Article

Temporary effects of random positioning on the function and plasticity of proliferating monocytes

Grimm, Daniela, Krüger, Marcus, Dittrich, Anna, Marchal, Shannon, Vogel, Katrin, Fickenscher, Lisette, Becker, Nadine, Cortés Sánchez, José Luis, Murkar, Rasika, Kahlert, Stefan

2025

Overview

The Random Positioning Machine (RPM) is used in the field of gravitational biology and space medicine. Rotational bioreactors such as the RPM create dynamic suspension cultures, providing shear stress, a crucial factor in circulatory homeostasis, but also in efficient mixing of nutrients and gases. This creates more physiologically relevant growth conditions than standard culture conditions translating the results to both microgravity and physiological systems on Earth. Immortalized monocyte-like THP-1 cells and primary blood-derived monocytes (PBMC) were cultured on the RPM for up to 7 days and evaluated for cell morphology, plasticity and functionality. For proliferating THP-1 cells, two different cell culture phases became obvious during random positioning: RPM early-phase (1–3 days) cells showed an increased responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), plasticity for macrophage differentiation and phagocytic activity. RPM late-phase (4–7 days) cells demonstrated an impaired responsiveness to LPS, plasticity for macrophage differentiation and no phagocytic activity, emphasizing possible inhibitory effects of long-term random positioning on monocyte maturation and functionality. Interestingly, RPM cell culture had no significant effect on the phenotype of non-proliferating PBMCs, possibly related to their quiescence in G 0 phase. These insights provide valuable information about the behavior and susceptibility of human monocytic cells under changing mechanical influences, which is important not only for gravitational research, but also for a better understanding of disease mechanisms.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 631/250/2504/342 / 631/61/168 / 631/61/32 / 631/80 / Aerospace medicine / Bioreactors / Cell culture / Cell Culture Techniques - methods / Cell cycle / Cell Differentiation / Cell morphology / Cell Plasticity / Cell Proliferation / Dynamic cell culture / Experiments / Flow cytometry / Gravity / Growth conditions / Homeostasis / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Lipopolysaccharides / Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology / Macrophages / Macrophages - cytology / Mechanosensitivity / Microgravity / Monocytes / Monocytes - cytology / Monocytes - drug effects / Monocytes - metabolism / Monocytes - physiology / Morphology / multidisciplinary / Peripheral blood mononuclear cells / Phagocytes / Phagocytosis / Phenotypes / Physiology / Plasticity / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Shear stress / THP-1 Cells