Tunneling membrane nanotubes (TnTs) are membrane protrusions connecting nearby or distant cells in vitro and in vivo. Functions of TnTs in cellular processes are various and rely on TnT structure, which also depends on cytoskeletal composition. In the present study, we focused on the organization of microtubules (MTs) and intermediate filaments (IFs) in TnTs of urothelial cells. We analysed TnTs of normal porcine urothelial cells, which morphologically and physiologically closely resemble normal human urothelial cells, and of cancer cells derived from invasive human urothelial neoplasm. Wide-field fluorescence, confocal and super-resolution microscopy techniques, together with image analyses and 3D reconstructions enlightened specific MT-IF organization in TnTs, and for the first time revealed that MTs and IFs co-occur in the majority of normal and cancer urothelial cell TnTs. Our findings show that in the initiation segment of TnTs, MTs are cross-linked with each other into filamentous network, however in the middle and the attaching segment of TnT, MTs can helically enwrap IFs, the phenomenon that has not been shown before within the TnTs. In this study, we assess MT-IF co-occurrence in TnTs and present evidence that such helical organization of MTs enwrapping IFs is only occurring in a minority of the TnTs. We also discuss the possible cell-biological and physiological reasons for helical organization of MTs in TnTs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35370-y | DOI Listing |
Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther
January 2025
Urology Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University. Xinjiang Clinical Reseach Center for Genitourinary System; State Key Laboratory of Patho-genesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia. Electronic address:
(background): With the highest 5-year recurrence rate among malignancies, bladder cancer is a relatively common type of cancer that typically originates from the urothelial cells lining the bladder. Additionally, bladder cancer is one of the most financially burdensome neoplasms to medical institutions in terms of management. Hence, prompt identification and accurate handling of bladder cancer are pivotal for enhancing patient prognosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections of both dogs and humans, with most caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Recurrent UPEC infections are a major concern in the treatment and management of UTIs in both species. In humans, the ability of UPECs to form intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) within urothelial cells has been implicated in recurrent UTIs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Technol
January 2025
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
Pet dogs offer valuable models for studying environmental impacts on human health due to shared environments and a shorter latency period for cancer development. We assessed environmental chemical exposures in a case-control study involving dogs at high risk of urothelial carcinoma, identified by a BRAF V595E mutation in urinary epithelial cells. Cases ( = 25) exhibited low-level BRAF mutations, while controls ( = 76) were matched dogs without the mutation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJFMS Open Rep
January 2025
Department of Anatomy, Comparative Pathology and Toxicology, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Córdoba, Spain.
Case Summary: A 13-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat presented with a 2-month history of progressive lameness, poor appetite and constipation. Physical examination revealed palpable lesions in muscles of several extremities. Ultrasound examination confirmed the presence of round lesions with a hypo- or anechoic centre within the muscles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe studied the effect of urinary urea concentration on the hemolysin production and cytotoxicity of the uropathogenic Morganella morganii strain MM 190. The highest hemolytic activity of M. morganii cultivated in urine with low urea concentration (23 and 82 mmol/liter) was observed between 3rd and 4th hours of post-inoculation, while in urine with standard urea level (117 mmol/liter), the activity was observed at 5th hour of post-inoculation.
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