"Microgravity" as a unique and useful stem cell culture environment for cell-based therapy

Abstract

Cell-based therapy using mesenchymal stem cells or pluripotent stem cells such as induced pluripotent stem cells has seen dramatic progress in recent years. Part of cell-based therapy are already covered by public medical insurance. Recently, researchers have attempted to improve therapeutic effects toward various diseases by cell transplantation. Culture environment is considered to be one of the most important factors affecting therapeutic effects, in particular factors such as physical stimuli, because cells have the potential to adapt to their surrounding environment. In this review, we provide an overview of the research on the effects of gravity alteration on cell kinetics such as proliferation or differentiation and on potential therapeutic effects, and we also summarize the remarkable possibilities of the use of microgravity culture in cell-based therapy for various diseases.

Keywords: CNS, central nervous system; ISS, International Space Station; MSCs, mesenchymal stem cells; Microgravity; RCCS, rotary cell culture system; Regenerative therapy; Stem cells; cMSCs, cranial bone-derived MSCs.

Fig. 1

Multidirectional gravity control device “Gravite®” by the controlled rotation of two axes, this device minimizes the cumulative gravity vector at the center of the device, generating an average of 10⁻³ ×g over time. It can also realize 2 g or 3 g environment by the controlled rotation of one axis.