Effect of microgravity on HUVECs (Human Umbilical vein Endothelial cells) cells and its transcriptome analysis.

Adaptation of humans in low gravity conditions is a matter of utmost importance when efforts are on to a gigantic leap in human space expeditions for tourism and formation of space colonies. In this connection cardiovascular adaptation in low gravity is a critical component of human space exploration. Deep high-throughput sequencing approach allowed us to analyze the miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cultured under gravity (G) and stimulated microgravity (MG) achieved with a clinostat. The present study identified totally 1870 miRNAs differentially expressed in HUVEC under MG condition when compared to the cells subjected to unitary G conditions. The functional association of identified miRNAs targeting specific mRNAs revealed that miRNAs hsa-mir-496 hsa-mir-151a hsa-miR-296-3p hsa-mir-148a hsa-miR-365b-5p hsa-miR-3687 hsa-mir-454 hsa-miR-155-5p and hsa-miR-145-5p differentially regulated the genes involved in cell adhesion angiogenesis cell cycle JAK-STAT signaling MAPK signaling nitric oxide signaling VEGF signaling and wound healing pathways. Further the q-PCR based experimental studies of upregulated and downregulated miRNA and mRNAs demonstrate that the above reported miRNAs influence the cell proliferation and vascular functions of the HUVEC in MG conditions effectively. Consensus on the interactome results indicates restricted fluctuations in the transcriptome of the HUVEC exposed to short-term MG that could lead to higher levels of endothelial functions like angiogenesis and vascular patterning.