Rapid alterations of cell cycle control proteins in human T lymphocytes in microgravity

In our study we aimed to identify rapidly reacting gravity-responsive mechanisms in mammalian cells in order to understand if and how altered gravity is translated into a cellular response. In a combination of experiments using "functional weightlessness" provided by 2D-clinostats and real microgravity provided by several parabolic flight campaigns and compared to in-flight-1g-controls, we identified rapid gravity-responsive reactions inside the cell cycle regulatory machinery of human T lymphocytes. In response to 2D clinorotation, we detected an enhanced expression of p21 Waf1/Cip1 protein within minutes, less cdc25C protein expression and enhanced Ser147-phosphorylation of cyclinB1 after CD3/CD28 stimulation. Additionally, during 2D clinorotation, Tyr-15-phosphorylation occurred later and was shorter than in the 1 g controls. In CD3/CD28-stimulated primary human T cells, mRNA expression of the cell cycle arrest protein p21 increased 4.1-fold after 20s real microgravity in primary CD4+ T cells and 2.9-fold in Jurkat T cells, compared to 1 g in-flight controls after CD3/CD28 stimulation. The histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibitor curcumin was able to abrogate microgravity-induced p21 mRNA expression, whereas expression was enhanced by a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. Therefore, we suppose that cell cycle progression in human T lymphocytes requires Earth gravity and that the disturbed expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins could contribute to the breakdown of the human immune system in space

The Obligations Towards Führer, People and Fatherland

Die Organisation „Glaube und Schönheit“ war eine Gründung innerhalb des Bundes Deutscher Mädel (BDM), die den 18- bis 21-jährigen ‚arischen‘ Frauen im ‚Dritten Reich‘ vorbehalten war, um diese für die Ziele der ‚Volksgemeinschaft‘ zu instrumenalisieren. Sabine Hering und Kurt Schilde rekonstruieren nicht nur die Struktur der kaum noch bekannten Organisation; in zwölf Gesprächen mit Zeitzeuginnen gehen sie auch den bis in die heutige Zeit reichenden Auswirkungen auf die Beteiligten nach.The organization “Glaube und Schönheit” ("Belief and Beauty") was an organization within the Bund Deutscher Mädel, which was reserved for 18 up to 21 year old “Aryan” women during the Nazi period in order to functionalize them according to the goals of the “Volksgemeinschaft”. Sabine Hering and Kurt Schilde not only reconstruct the structure of the organization, which is mostly unknown today; in twelve interviews with contemporaries they also deal with the far reaching impacts on the people who were involved in this organization