Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
10:46

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells

Published on: July 16, 2013

Mechanisms of cellular communication through intercellular protein transfer

Khawaja Ashfaque Ahmed1, Jim Xiang

  • 1Research Unit, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Departments of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
|January 15, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Intercellular protein transfer, including trogocytosis, is vital for immune system function and can influence immune responses. Understanding these transfers is key to immune cell communication and potential disease pathology.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cellular communication is essential for multicellular organisms.
  • Intercellular protein exchange is a key process, especially in immune cells.
  • Mechanisms and functional roles of these transfers are increasingly studied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review findings on intercellular protein transfers.
  • To discuss mechanisms of protein exchange between cells.
  • To highlight the physiological relevance in the immune system, particularly T cells.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature.
  • Analysis of evidence on intercellular protein transfer mechanisms.
  • Focus on immune cell interactions and T cell examples.

Main Results:

  • Intercellular protein transfer, including trogocytosis, modulates immune responses.
  • Transferred proteins can contribute to both physiological and pathological processes.
  • T cells can acquire dendritic cell membrane molecules, influencing immune responses.

Conclusions:

  • Intercellular protein transfer is a significant mechanism in immune regulation.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate mechanisms and functional consequences.
  • Understanding these exchanges is crucial for immune system research and therapeutic development.

More Related Videos

Engineering Cell-permeable Protein21:08

Engineering Cell-permeable Protein

Published on: December 28, 2009

Measuring Transcellular Interactions through Protein Aggregation in a Heterologous Cell System04:47

Measuring Transcellular Interactions through Protein Aggregation in a Heterologous Cell System

Published on: May 22, 2020

Related Concept Videos

What is Cell Signaling?02:03

What is Cell Signaling?

Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
What is Cell Signaling?02:03

What is Cell Signaling?

Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
Overview of Cell Signaling01:23

Overview of Cell Signaling

Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Overview of Cell Signaling01:23

Overview of Cell Signaling

Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Types of Signaling Molecules01:32

Types of Signaling Molecules

In multicellular organisms, many molecules transmit signals between cells to pass information. These signals vary in complexity and include small peptides, nucleotides, steroids, fatty acid derivatives, and dissolved gases such as nitric oxide. Some signaling molecules diffuse through the plasma membrane to act locally between neighboring cells or travel long distances. Others remain attached to the cell surface, transmitting information to other cells only when they make contact. In some...
Types of Signaling Molecules01:32

Types of Signaling Molecules

In multicellular organisms, many molecules transmit signals between cells to pass information. These signals vary in complexity and include small peptides, nucleotides, steroids, fatty acid derivatives, and dissolved gases such as nitric oxide. Some signaling molecules diffuse through the plasma membrane to act locally between neighboring cells or travel long distances. Others remain attached to the cell surface, transmitting information to other cells only when they make contact. In some...