<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> A few years ago, a so far unknown type of intercellular connections, involved in communication was discovered. Due to their specific nano-architecture, these connections were named membrane nanotubes or tunneling nanotubes. Nanotubes ensure the transfer of both membrane and cytosolic cellular components, including organelles. Nanotubes also participate in calcium signal transduction and apoptosis signal. The length of the distance at which cells contact via nanotubes reaches several hundred micrometers. The published data suggest that nanotubes have heterogeneous structure. Among them, there are nanotubes which provide direct contact of the cytoplasm in connected cells (open-ended structure), and those, in which the transport requires overcoming a barrier, which is the cell membrane (close-ended structure). An important finding in the study of membrane nanotubes was demonstrating the ability of these connections of the intercellular transfer of pathogens, such as HIV, or abnormal form of PrP prion protein. In addition, nanotubes mediate a transport of MDR protein, involved in resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy. It means that this type of cell connection may play an important role in the pathomechanism of AIDS, prion as well as cancer diseases.</p></abstract>

A few years ago, a so far unknown type of intercellular connections, involved in communication was discovered. Due to their specific nano-architecture, these connections were named membrane nanotubes or tunneling nanotubes. Nanotubes ensure the transfer of both membrane and cytosolic cellular components, including organelles. Nanotubes also participate in calcium signal transduction and apoptosis signal. The length of the distance at which cells contact via nanotubes reaches several hundred micrometers. The published data suggest that nanotubes have heterogeneous structure. Among them, there are nanotubes which provide direct contact of the cytoplasm in connected cells (open-ended structure), and those, in which the transport requires overcoming a barrier, which is the cell membrane (close-ended structure). An important finding in the study of membrane nanotubes was demonstrating the ability of these connections of the intercellular transfer of pathogens, such as HIV, or abnormal form of PrP prion protein. In addition, nanotubes mediate a transport of MDR protein, involved in resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy. It means that this type of cell connection may play an important role in the pathomechanism of AIDS, prion as well as cancer diseases.

Participation of Membrane Nanotubes in Intercellular Communication

Department of Cell Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań, Umultowska 89 Street, 61-614 Poznań

Department of Cell Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań

Medical Journal of Cell Biology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Participation of Membrane Nanotubes in Intercellular Communication"}

A few years ago, a so far unknown type of intercellular connections, involved in communication was discovered. Due to their specific nano-architecture, these...

Participation of Membrane Nanotubes in Intercellular Communication

Published Online: Oct 15, 2014

Page range: 61 - 81

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acb-2014-0004

Keywords
membrane nanotubes, intercellular communication, organelle transport, signal transduction, transmission of pathogens

© by Agnieszka Knopik-Skrocka

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Participation of Membrane Nanotubes in Intercellular Communication

Published Online: Oct 15, 2014

Page range: 61 - 81

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acb-2014-0004

Keywordsmembrane nanotubes, intercellular communication, organelle transport, signal transduction, transmission of pathogens

© by Agnieszka Knopik-Skrocka

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
membrane nanotubes, intercellular communication, organelle transport, signal transduction, transmission of pathogens