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Fine intercellular connections in development: TNTs, cytonemes, or intercellular bridges?
Olga Korenkova1,2, Anna Pepe1, Chiara Zurzolo1
1Unit of Membrane Traffic and Pathogenesis, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France.
Cell Stress
|February 12, 2020
Summary
Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are conduits for cell communication, potentially active during development. This study explores if embryonic protrusions are TNTs or other structures like cytonemes.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Communication
Background:
- Multicellular organisms rely on intercellular communication for environmental responses.
- Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are emerging as a novel cell-to-cell conduit for communication.
- TNTs are observed under stress and proposed to function in physiological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature of cell protrusions observed during embryonic development.
- To determine if these protrusions represent tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) or alternative structures.
- To clarify the role of cell-cell conduits in developmental coordination.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of cell protrusions in embryonic development.
- Literature review on TNTs, cytonemes, and intercellular bridges.
- Functional and structural characterization of cell conduits.
Main Results:
- Embryonic cell protrusions share characteristics with known TNTs.
- Distinguishing TNTs from other structures like cytonemes is crucial.
- The precise identity of these conduits impacts understanding of developmental processes.
Conclusions:
- Cell protrusions during development may function as TNTs, facilitating crucial intercellular communication.
- Further research is needed to definitively identify these structures and their roles.
- Understanding these conduits is key to deciphering developmental coordination mechanisms.
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