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A role for tunneling nanotubes in virus spread
Weimiao Lv1,2,3, Zichen Li2,3, Shule Wang4
1Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|March 4, 2024
Summary
Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) facilitate virus spread between cells, even against treatments. Understanding TNTs in viral infections like HIV and SARS-CoV-2 is key to developing new therapies.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are actin-rich structures enabling intercellular communication and cargo transfer.
- TNTs are implicated in various physiological and pathological processes.
- Viral infections can hijack TNTs for spread, posing therapeutic challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of TNTs in the intercellular spread of diverse viruses.
- To identify viral proteins that induce TNT formation.
- To explore how TNTs contribute to viral dissemination and treatment resistance.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on TNTs and viral infections.
- Analysis of viral proteins involved in TNT induction.
- Examination of TNT-mediated viral spread mechanisms.
Main Results:
- TNTs mediate the spread of viruses including HIV, HTLV, influenza A, herpesvirus, paramyxovirus, alphavirus, and SARS-CoV-2.
- Specific viral proteins induce TNT formation, promoting intercellular communication.
- TNTs facilitate viral spread, bypassing neutralizing antibodies and antiviral drugs.
Conclusions:
- Virus-induced TNTs are a significant route for viral dissemination.
- Understanding TNT mechanisms offers targets for novel antiviral therapies.
- Targeting TNTs may overcome resistance to current treatments.
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