Effects of microgravity and hypergravity on platelet functions

Kesheng Dai; Yuedan Wang; Rong Yan; Quanwei Shi; Zhicheng Wang; Yanhong Yuan; Hong Cheng; Suping Li; Yubo Fan; Fengyuan Zhuang

doi:10.1160/TH08-11-0750

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2009; 101(05): 902-910
DOI: 10.1160/TH08-11-0750

Platelets and Blood Cells

Schattauer GmbH

Effects of microgravity and hypergravity on platelet functions

Authors

Kesheng Dai

¹Department of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China
Yuedan Wang

²Department of Immunology, Peking University, Beijing, China
Rong Yan

¹Department of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China
Quanwei Shi

¹Department of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China
Zhicheng Wang

¹Department of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China
Yanhong Yuan

¹Department of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China

³Space Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
Hong Cheng

¹Department of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China
Suping Li

¹Department of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China
Yubo Fan

¹Department of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China
Fengyuan Zhuang

¹Department of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China

Abstract

Summary

Many serious thrombotic and haemorrhagic diseases or fatalities have been documented in human being exposed to micro-gravity or hypergravity environments, such as crewmen in space, roller coaster riders, and aircrew subjected to high-G training. Some possible related organs have been examined to explore the mechanisms underlying these gravity change-related diseases. However, the role of platelets which are the primary players in both thrombosis and haemostasis is unknown. Here we show that platelet aggregation induced by ristocetin or collagen and platelet adhesion to von Willebrand factor (VWF) were significantly decreased after platelets were exposed to simulated microgravity. Conversely, these platelet functions were increased after platelets were exposed to hypergravity. The tail bleeding time in vivo was significantly shortened in mice exposed to high-G force, whereas, was prolonged in hindlimb unloaded mice. Furthermore, three of 23 mice died after 15 minutes of –8 Gx stress. Platelet thrombi disseminated in the heart ventricle and blood vessels in the brain, lung, and heart from the dead mice. Finally, glycoprotein (GP) Ibα surface expression and its association with the cytoskeleton were significantly decreased in platelets exposed to simulated microgravity, and obviously increased in hypergravity-exposed platelets. These data indicate that the platelet functions are inhibited in microgravity environments, and activated under high-G conditions, suggesting a novel mechanism for gravity change-related haemorrhagic and thrombotic diseases. This mechanism has important implications for preventing and treating gravity change-related diseases, and also suggests that special attentions should be paid to human actions under different gravity conditions.

Keywords

Platelets - thrombosis - haemorrhage - simulated microgravity - hypergravity

Full Text

References

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