Membrane nanotubes: Novel communication between distant cells

Zhang, Jianghui; Zhang, Youyi

doi:10.1007/s11427-013-4548-3

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Although TNTs are present in the healthy cells, pathological conditions (e.g. infectious state, cancer) were previously associated with an increase in the number of TNTs 21 22 . TNTs represent an interesting feature of cells, which, generally, is related to the transfer of information between the two neighboring cells.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiofrequency treatment alters cancer cell phenotype

Ware

Tinger

Colbert

et al. 2015

Sci Rep

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The importance of evaluating physical cues in cancer research is gradually being realized. Assessment of cancer cell physical appearance, or phenotype, may provide information on changes in cellular behavior, including migratory or communicative changes. These characteristics are intrinsically different between malignant and non-malignant cells and change in response to therapy or in the progression of the disease. Here, we report that pancreatic cancer cell phenotype was altered in response to a physical method for cancer therapy, a non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) treatment, which is currently being developed for human trials. We provide a battery of tests to explore these phenotype characteristics. Our data show that cell topography, morphology, motility, adhesion and division change as a result of the treatment. These may have consequences for tissue architecture, for diffusion of anti-cancer therapeutics and cancer cell susceptibility within the tumor. Clear phenotypical differences were observed between cancerous and normal cells in both their untreated states and in their response to RF therapy. We also report, for the first time, a transfer of microsized particles through tunneling nanotubes, which were produced by cancer cells in response to RF therapy. Additionally, we provide evidence that various sub-populations of cancer cells heterogeneously respond to RF treatment.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiofrequency treatment alters cancer cell phenotype

Ware

Tinger

Colbert

et al. 2015

Sci Rep

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“…As a hypothesis, alpha-syn may enter mitochondria to Bpull^them out in an actomyosin-dependent way [26].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rescue of Brain Function Using Tunneling Nanotubes Between Neural Stem Cells and Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Wang

Xie

et al. 2015

Mol Neurobiol

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Evidence indicates that neural stem cells (NSCs) can ameliorate cerebral ischemia in animal models. In this study, we investigated the mechanism underlying one of the neuroprotective effects of NSCs: tunneling nanotube (TNT) formation. We addressed whether the control of cell-to-cell communication processes between NSCs and brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and, particularly, the control of TNT formation could influence the rescue function of stem cells. In an attempt to mimic the cellular microenvironment in vitro, a co-culture system consisting of terminally differentiated BMECs from mice in a distressed state and NSCs was constructed. Additionally, engraftment experiments with infarcted mouse brains revealed that control of TNT formation influenced the effects of stem cell transplantation in vivo. In conclusion, our findings provide the first evidence that TNTs exist between NSCs and BMECs and that regulation of TNT formation alters cell function.

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“…It has been suggested that the cell dislodgment mechanism may be typical for motile cells which include immune cells (e.g. macrophages or lymphocytes) (Chauveau et al 2010, Zhang & Zhang 2013). It is unclear what induces TNT formation but studies have shown that longer duration of cell-cell contact prior to separation increases TNT formation in T lymphocytes and NK cells (Chauveau et al 2010, Sowinski et al 2011, Sowinski et al 2008).…”

Section: Tunneling Nanotubes (Tnts)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Exosomes and nanotubes: Control of immune cell communication

McCoy-Simandle

Hanna

Cox

2016

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology

100

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Cell-cell communication is critical to coordinate the activity and behavior of a multicellular organism. The cells of the immune system not only must communicate with similar cells, but also with many other cell types in the body. Therefore, the cells of the immune system have evolved multiple ways to communicate. Exosomes and tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are two means of communication used by immune cells that contribute to immune functions. Exosomes are small membrane vesicles secreted by most cell types that can mediate intercellular communication and in the immune system they are proposed to play a role in antigen presentation and modulation of gene expression. TNTs are membranous structures that mediate direct cell-cell contact over several cell diameters in length (and possibly longer) and facilitate the interaction and/or the transfer of signals, material and other cellular organelles between connected cells. Recent studies have revealed additional, but sometimes conflicting, structural and functional features of both exosomes and TNTs. Despite the new and exciting information in exosome and TNT composition, origin and in vitro function, biologically significant functions are still being investigated and determined. In this review, we discuss the current field regarding exosomes and TNTs in immune cells providing evaluation and perspectives of the current literature.

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Membrane nanotubes: Novel communication between distant cells

Cited by 20 publications

References 33 publications

Radiofrequency treatment alters cancer cell phenotype

Radiofrequency treatment alters cancer cell phenotype

Rescue of Brain Function Using Tunneling Nanotubes Between Neural Stem Cells and Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Exosomes and nanotubes: Control of immune cell communication

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