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Cell Culture Module - Effect of Microgravity on Wound Repair: In Vitro Model of New Blood Vessel Development (CCM-Wound_Repair)
07.10.09

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

Cell Culture Module - Effect of Microgravity on Wound Repair: In Vitro Model of New Blood Vessel Development (CCM-Wound Repair) is Department of Defense Space Test Program research that uses cell culture in micrgravity as a model of wound healing. This investigation is directed at the use of adipose derived adult stem cells for use in injury repair and how the microgravity alters new blood vessel development which is a key component of wound and tissue repair.

Principal Investigator

  • Stuart K. Williams, Ph.D., The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
  • James B. Hoying, Ph.D., The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

    Information Pending

    Payload Developer


    Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD
    United States Department of Defense Space Test Program, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

    Sponsoring Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |15|

    Previous ISS Missions

    This experiment model has not previously flown in the CCM, although the CCM has flown on previous space shuttle missions.

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • CCM - Wound Repair is Department of Defense Space Test Program research directed at understanding the effects of microgravity on living systems, concentrating on wound healing.


    • The experiment takes advantage of an emerging body of knowledge surrounding the utility of adipose (fat) derived stem cells (ADSC) to improve tissue repair through a combination of revascularization, new tissue formation, and growth factor recruitment of key repair cells.


    • This investigation will have utility for wound repair problems encountered in space but also will add to the understanding of the mechanisms of signaling within the ADSCs that are key to the cell differentiation and effectiveness of the cells to effect repair in living systems. These cells have already shown great promise to improve muscle, bone, immune and chronic injury conditions on Earth.

    Description

    Studies have shown that spaceflight diminishes the wound repair process. The CCM will use primary endothelial cells derived from adipose tissue as a wound repair model to study and potentially mitigate its effects. Endothelial cells are found lining all blood vessels. Endothelial cells in culture form cords and tubes that are precursors to new blood vessels. We hypothesize that the processes of new blood vessel formation and maturation will be impaired when the cells are cultured in microgravity, as compared to land-based cultures. We also expect to see differences in gene expression when the cultures are subjected to genomic analysis.

    The endothelial cells will be seeded onto custom flatbed bioreactors and perfused. Growth hormone (VEG-F) will be injected into half of the samples pre-flight, and all samples will be fixed during spaceflight. It is suspected that those exposed to growth hormone will show improved blood vessel formation and maturation compared to those without growth hormone exposure.

    The CCM hardware is designed specifically to study the effects of microgravity on cells. For this experiment, custom bioreactor cartridges are used as basic cell support structures. The CCM allows controlled physiologic maintenance, manipulation, and testing of the cells.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Astronauts traveling to the moon or Mars in microgravity may experience injury or trauma, initiating the wound healing process. The blood vessel experiment will help determine a potential treatment to minimize any negative effects of microgravity on wound healing and blood vessel formation.

    Earth Applications

    This unique cell culture in microgravity serves as a model system for understanding necrosis of tissue following severe injuries. Using adipose derived adult stem cells may accelerate new blood vessel development which is a key component of wound and tissue repair. Results will be applied to help prevent the loss of limbs following severe injuries with life-changing benefits in military and civilian applications.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Four rails with individual flowpaths and biochambers will be housed inside the CCM hardware. Two of the rails will house three individual biochambers/flowpaths each with primary endothelial cells. The rails will provide growth media, environment monitors and cell fixation capabilities.

    Operational Protocols

    The CCM investigation is self contained and requires crew interaction for activation, daily status checks and re-entry. Rails will contain cell lines treated with different wound repair factors or growth hormones. Following return to Earth, the rails will be returned to the investigator for in-depth analysis.

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Related Web Sites

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications

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        Images

        imageNASA Image - s118e10350: Seen in this image is the hardware that houses the Cell Culture Module - Immune Response of Human Monocytes in Microgravity (CCM-Immune Response) and the Cell Culture Module - Effect of Microgravity on Wound Repair: In Vitro Model of New Blood Vessel Development (CCM-Wound Repair) experiments. The experiments were flown on STS118/13A.1 in August 2007.
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        Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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