Tunneling Nanotubes Facilitate Intercellular Protein Transfer and Cell Networks Function.

The past decade witnessed a huge interest in the communication machinery called tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) which is a novel, contact-dependent type of intercellular protein transfer (IPT). As the IPT phenomenon plays a particular role in the cross-talk between cells, including cancer cells as well as in the immune and nervous systems, it therefore participates in remodeling of the cellular networks. The following review focuses on the placing the role of tunneling nanotube-mediated protein transfer between distant cells.

Tunneling nanotube-mediated intercellular vesicle and protein transfer in the stroma-provided imatinib resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia cells.

Intercellular communication within the bone marrow niche significantly promotes leukemogenesis and provides protection of leukemic cells from therapy. Secreted factors, intercellular transfer of mitochondria and the receptor-ligand interactions have been shown as mediators of this protection. Here we report that tunneling nanotubes (TNTs)-long, thin membranous structures, which have been identified as a novel mode of intercellular cross-talk-are formed in the presence of stroma and mediate transfer of cellular vesicles from stroma to leukemic cells.

Characteristics of live parameters of the HS-5 human bone marrow stromal cell line cocultured with the leukemia cells in hypoxia, for the studies of leukemia-stroma cross-talk.

The unique bone marrow microenvironment is created by stromal cells and such physical conditions as hypoxia. Both hypoxia and interactions with stromal cells have a significant impact on the biology of leukemia cells, changing their sensitivity to antileukemic therapies. Thus, it is crucial to introduce biological systems, which enable the investigation of leukemia-stroma cross-talk and verification of novel therapies effectiveness under such bone marrow niche-mimicking conditions.