March 29, 2024

BioGravity to Build Next Generation NK Cells in Microgravity on Earth

Mast cell degranulation, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Degranulation is the process by mast cells release chemicals when activated. Mast cells are a type of white blood cell that are found in connective tissue. Within the cell's cytoplasm are granules containing chemical mediators, including histamine and heparin. When the mast cell is activated, either by an allergic reaction or in response to injury or inflammation, these granules are released into the tissues. Histamine is responsible for the symptoms of an allergic reaction. It causes pain and itching, dilates capillaries and makes them more permeable, leading to red skin and swelling. Heparin is an anticoagulant, it prevents blood from clotting.

As reported last September 2020 in Science Direct simulated microgravity appears to disarm human NK-cells and inhibits anti-tumor cytotoxicity in vitro.

A key conclusion for the BioGravity™ Platform Team at MichiganSpaceStation.com is that Natural Killer (NK) cell function is altered after simulated microgravity (SMG).

Secondarily, gravitational unloading within simulated microgravity devices such as the BioGravity™ Platform causes reductions in NK-cell degranulation and effector cytokine production in surprising ways.

Cell degranulation are studied under colored scanning electron micrographs (SEM) after varying duration and intensity of gravitational unloading aboard the BioGravity™ Platform. To wit, the holy grail is an allogeneic NK cell line that minimizes allergic reactions while improving both activation and killing abilities of cancer tumors. One key may be in regulating degranulation under microgravity incubation.

What’s new is that cell degranulation can be studied under colored scanning electron micrographs (SEM) after varying duration and intensity of gravitational unloading aboard the BioGravity™ Platform.

Degranulation is the process by mast cells that release chemicals when activated. Shown here are mast cells — a type of white blood cell that are found in connective tissue. Within the cell’s cytoplasm are granules containing chemical mediators, including histamine and heparin. When the mast cell is activated, these granules are released into the tissues. Histamine is responsible for the symptoms of an allergic reaction in one example. Degranulation may also cause a signal cascade –sometimes known as a cytokine storm–when allogeneic therapies are introduced in vivo or in vitro.

With multiple BioGravity platforms on Earth attached to the Western Michigan University Medical Innovation Center, NK Cell developers, biotech and biopharma can speed dozens-to-thousands of experiments at once to maximize the development of their cell lines.

Immune system, Spaceflight, Rotary cell culture system, Cytokines, Leukemia

Inspiring Innovation with Gravity

RENT PURCHASE OR COMMISSION THE BIOGRAVITY MICROGRAVITY EXPERIMENT PLATFORM

RENT A COMMERCIAL-GRADE BIOGRAVITY™ PLATFORM FOR YOUR CLASSROOM OR LAB — FOR ABOUT $1100 MONTH.

PURCHASE A BIOGRAVITY™ PLATFORM with a $10,000 discount for academia or non-profit.

COMMISSION A BIOGRAVITY™ EXPERIMENT WITH CLINICAL OR END-TO-END VERIFICATION FROM $15,000 USD Conducted at the MichiganSpaceStation.com integrated with the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine Innovation Center.

BIOGRAVITY™ PLATFORM fits inside most standard incubators. 96 Well Plate or 250mL BioReactor Platform is standard. Platform rated to 400 grams. Larger capacity designs available including our MERLIN pre-flight microgravity platform. Radiation tested. Rated to over 3,000 hours continuous use. Calibrated g performance to 10-3. Software included. Free shipping within 48 hours. Overnight replacement guarantee. Machined in Japan. Assembled and landed in USA. No tariff, import duties or VAT taxes. 1 Protein Fold Experiment Included. Training included. The BioGravity Platform is the exclusive licensee in North America for sales and service of the Explor Space Simulated Microgravity RPM by biomedical engineer Dr. Joshua Chou at University Technology Sydney. Bulk discount on 10 or more serial-linked platforms. Rental, purchase or commission credit for simulated microgravity experiments applied toward later experiment flight on the International Space Station (ISS) when booked through BioGravityLLC flight partners and integration specialists.

Frank Pournelle Chief Commercial Officer BioGravity LLC Microgravity & Cell Division NOVEL LAB + PRE-CLINIC DISCOVERY 800-334-4500 frank@biotech-net.com