Simulation of Microgravity by Magnetic Levitation and Random Positioning: Effect on Human A431 Cell Morphology

Simulation of weightlessness is a desired replenishment for research in microgravity since access to space flights is limited. In real microgravity conditions, the human epidermoid cell line A431 exhibits specific changes in the actin cytoskeleton resulting ultimately in the rounding-up of cells. This rounding of A431 cells was studied in detail during exposure to Random Positioning Machine (RPM) rotation and magnetic levitation. Random rotation and magnetic levitation induced similar changes in the actin morphology of A431 cells that were also described in real microgravity. A transient process of cell rounding and renewed spreading was observed in time, illustrated by a changing actin cytoskeleton and variation in the presence of focal adhesions. However, side effects of both methods easily can lead to false linking of cellular responses to simulated microgravity. Therefore further characterization of both methods is required.