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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Methods to Study Lipid Alterations in Neutrophils and the Subsequent Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps

Methods to Study Lipid Alterations in Neutrophils and the Subsequent Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps

Published on: March 29, 2017

Lipid nanotubes unmask neutrophils for complement attack.

Xiaobo Liu¹, Yuanyuan Wang^1,2, Alexander Thomas Bauer¹

¹Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

|December 5, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Neutrophils under shear stress form lipid nanotubes (NTs) that lack CD46, leading to complement C3b opsonization. These NTs and NT-derived vesicles are found in inflammatory conditions and are phagocytosed by neutrophils, driving cell activation.

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Direct Observation of Phagocytosis and NET-formation by Neutrophils in Infected Lungs using 2-photon Microscopy

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Last Updated: Jan 9, 2026

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Published on: March 29, 2017

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Direct Observation of Phagocytosis and NET-formation by Neutrophils in Infected Lungs using 2-photon Microscopy

Direct Observation of Phagocytosis and NET-formation by Neutrophils in Infected Lungs using 2-photon Microscopy

Published on: June 2, 2011

Area of Science:

Immunology
Cell Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Neutrophils are key innate immune cells involved in phagocytosis and morphological changes.
Shear stress is a physical force that can influence cellular behavior and function.
Lipid nanotubes (NTs) are emerging structures involved in intercellular communication.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the composition and function of neutrophil-derived lipid nanotubes (NTs) under shear stress.
To determine the interaction of NTs with the complement system.
To explore the role of NTs and NT-derived vesicles (NTDVs) in inflammatory diseases.

Main Methods:

Exposure of neutrophils to shear stress to induce NT formation.
Proteomic analysis of NTs to determine their molecular composition.
Biophysical characterization of NT integrity and formation.
Detection of NTDVs in patient and animal plasma samples.
Functional assays assessing neutrophil phagocytosis and activation.

Main Results:

Neutrophils exposed to shear stress generate lipid nanotubes (NTs) lacking cytoskeletal elements and CD46.
These NTs are recognized by the complement system and opsonized with C3b.
NT integrity depends on lipid-lipid interactions, and they form NT-derived vesicles (NTDVs).
C3b+ NTDVs are present in plasma from patients with metastatic melanoma, vasculitis, and polytrauma.
Neutrophils phagocytose C3b+ NTDVs, leading to activation, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

Conclusions:

Neutrophil-derived NTs and NTDVs play a significant role in various inflammatory diseases.
These structures represent a novel mechanism of cell-cell communication in inflammation.
The complement system's interaction with NTs contributes to inflammatory processes.