Open Access

ARTICLE

Cell cycle and HIF-1 related gene expression alteration in thyroid cell lines under microgravity

JONG-HYUK AHN¹, JIN WOOK YI^2,3,*

1 Department of Surgery, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
2 Department of Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, 22209, Republic of Korea
3 Department of Surgery, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, 22332, Republic of Korea

* Corresponding Author: JIN WOOK YI. Email:

Oncology Research 2025, 33(8), 1909-1931. https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2025.065847

Received 23 March 2025; Accepted 23 May 2025; Issue published 18 July 2025

Abstract

Background: With growing interest in space exploration, understanding microgravity’s impact on human health is essential. This study aims to investigate gene expression changes and migration and invasion potential in five thyroid-related cell lines cultured under simulated microgravity. Methods: Five thyroid-related cell lines—normal thyrocytes (Nthy-ori 3-1), papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) cells (SNU-790, TPC-1), poorly differentiated thyroid cancer cell (BCPAP), and anaplastic thyroid cancer cell (SNU-80)—were cultured under simulated microgravity (10⁻³ g) using a clinostat. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using cDNA microarray, followed by functional annotation and assessment of aggressiveness via Transwell migration and invasion assays. Results: DEG analysis under simulated microgravity revealed distinct gene expression profiles by gravity condition, with 2980 DEGs in SNU-790, 1033 in BCPAP, 562 in TPC-1, 477 in Nthy-ori 3-1, and 246 in SNU-80, as confirmed by hierarchical clustering. In PTC cell lines (SNU-790, TPC-1), G2–M phase–related genes were upregulated. In non-PTC cell lines (BCPAP, SNU-80), genes associated with innate immune response, Toll-like receptor signaling, were upregulated, whereas Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) signaling-related genes were downregulated. Additionally, under simulated microgravity, significant migration was observed in SNU-790 (3 × 10⁴ cells) and BCPAP (2 × 10⁴ and 3 × 10⁴), while significant invasion occurred in SNU-790, Nthy-ori 3-1, and BCPAP at a seeding density of 2 × 10⁴. Other conditions showed no significant differences. Conclusion: This study comprehensively evaluates the effects of simulated microgravity using a diverse panel of thyroid-related cell lines. These findings provide valuable insight into how microgravity could influence cancer biology, emphasizing the importance of further research on cancer behavior in space environments and its implications for human health during long-term space missions.

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