cDNA microarray reveals altered cytoskeletal gene expression in space-flown leukemic T lymphocytes (Jurkat)

Cytoskeletal disruption and growth arrest consistently occur in space-flown human acute leukemic T cells (Jurkat). Although the microtubules appear to reorganize during spaceflight, cells remain nonproliferative. To test the hypothesis that spaceflight alters cytoskeletal gene expression and may thu s affect cytoskeletal function, we flew Jurkat cells on Space Transportatio n System (STS) 95 and compared RNA message by cDNA microarray in space-flow n vs. ground controls at 24 h (4,324 genes) and 48 h (> 20,000 genes). Mess ages for 11 cytoskeleton-related genes, including calponin, dynactin, tropo modulin, keratin 8, two myosins, an ankyrin EST, an actinlike protein, the cytoskeletal linker (plectin), and a centriole-associated protein (C-NAP1), were up-regulated in space-flown compared with ground control cells; gelso lin precursor was down-regulated. Up-regulation of plectin and C-NAP1 messa ge in both space-flown cells and vibrated controls is a novel finding and i mplies their role in vibration damage repair. This first report of cDNA mic roarray screening of gene expression in space-flown leukemic T cells also i dentifies differential expression of genes that regulate growth, metabolism , signal transduction, adhesion, transcription, apoptosis, and tumor suppre ssion. Based on differential expression of cytoskeletal genes, we conclude that centriole-centriole, membrane-cytoskeletal, and cytoskeletal filament associations are altered in the orbital phase of spaceflight.