Effects of simulated weightlessness on apoptosis of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells

Objective: To investigate the effects of simulated microgravity induced by clinostat on the apoptosis of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells（PMVEC）. Methods: Clinostat was used to simulate the effects of microgravity.Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells were cultured on clinostat for 48h,and then the cell nuclei were stained by Hoechst33258.The rate of apoptotic cells was detected in PMVEC by flow cytometry using annexin V-FITC stain. Results: Hoechst33258 staining showed that the apoptotic cells increased after 48h-clinostat.The results of flow cytometry showed that the rate of apoptotic cells was 19.85% in clinostat group,much higher than that in control group（P＜0.01）. Conclusion: Simulated microgravity induced by 48h-clinostat can induce early apoptosis in PMVEC.