EFFECTS OF SIMULATED MICROGRAVITY ON DU-145 HUMAN PROSTATE CARCINOMA-CELLS

The high aspect rotating-wall vessel (HARV) was recently designed by N ASA to cultivate animal cells in an environment that simulates microgr avity. This work examines the effects of HARV cultivation on DU 145 hu man prostate carcinoma cells. In the HARV, these prostate cells grew i n suspension on Cytodex-3 microcarrier beads to form bead aggregates w ith extensive three-dimensional growth between beads and on the aggreg ate surface. HARV and spinner-flask control cultures of DU 145 cells h ad similar doubling times, but the former was characterized by a highe r percentage of G(1)-phase cells, larger bead aggregates, enhanced dev elopment of filopodia and microvilli-like structures on the aggregate surface, and stronger staining for select cytoskeletal proteins (cytok eratins 8 and 18, actin, and vimentin). When compared with static cont rols grown in a T-flask and Transwell insert, HARV cultures grew more slowly and differences in the cell cycle and immunostaining became mor e pronounced. These results suggest that HARV cultivation produced a c ulture that was less aggressive from the perspective of proliferation, more differentiated and less pliant than any of the three control cul tures examined in this work. Possible factors effecting this change ar e discussed including turbulence and three-dimensional growth. (C) 199 6 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.