The effects and mechanisms of clinorotation on proliferation and differentiation in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Data from human and rodent studies have demonstrated that microgravity induces observed bone loss in real spaceflight or simulated experiments. The decrease of bone formation and block of maturation may play important roles in bone loss induced by microgravity. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of proliferation and differentiation in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) induced by simulated microgravity and the mechanisms underlying it. We report here that clinorotation, a simulated model of microgravity, decreased proliferation and differentiation in BMSCs after exposure to 48 h simulated microgravity. The inhibited proliferation are related with blocking the cell cycle in G2/M and enhancing the apoptosis. While alterations of the osteoblast differentiation due to the decreased SATB2 expression induced by simulated microgravity in BMSCs. •Simulated microgravity inhibited proliferation and differentiation in BMSCs.•The decreased proliferation due to blocked cell cycle and enhanced the apoptosis.•The inhibited differentiation accounts for alteration of SATB2, Hoxa2 and Cbfa1.