The growth determinants and transport properties of tunneling nanotube networks between B lymphocytes.

The growth determinants and transport properties of tunneling nanotube networks between B lymphocytes. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2016 Apr 28; Authors: Osteikoetxea-Molnár A, Szabó-Meleg E, Tóth EA, Oszvald Á, Izsépi E, Kremlitzka M, Biri B, Nyitray L, Bozó T, Németh P, Kellermayer M, Nyitrai M, Matko J Abstract Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are long intercellular connecting structures providing a special transport route between two neighboring cells. To date TNTs have been reported in different cell types including immune cells such as T-, NK, dendritic cells, or macrophages. Here we report that mature, but not immature, B cells spontaneously form extensive TNT networks under conditions resembling the physiological environment. Live-cell fluorescence, structured illumination, and atomic force microscopic imaging provide new insights into the structure and dynamics of B cell TNTs. Importantly, the selective interaction of cell surface integrins with fibronectin or laminin extracellular matrix proteins proved to be essential for initiating TNT growth in B cells. These TNTs display diversity in length and thickness and contain not only F-actin, but their majority also contain microtubules, which were found, however, not essential for TNT formation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Ca(2+)-dependent cortical actin dynamics exert a fundamental control over TNT growth-retraction equilibrium, suggesting that actin filaments form the TNT skeleto...
Source: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS - Category: Cytology Authors: Tags: Cell Mol Life Sci Source Type: research