GFAP serves as a structural element of tunneling nanotubes between glioblastoma cells and could play a role in the intercellular transfer of mitochondria

• DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1221671
• Publication Date: 2023-10-13T08:43:21Z
• Authors: L. Simone; D. L. Capobianco; F. Di Palma; E. Binda; F. G. Legnani; A. L. Vescovi; M. Svelto; F. Pisani
• Keywords: Gene transfer

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are long F-actin-positive plasma membrane bridges connecting distant cells, allowing the intercellular transfer of cellular cargoes, and found to be involved in glioblastoma (GBM) crosstalk. Glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) is a key intermediate filament glial cells cytoskeleton remodeling linked GBM progression. Whether GFAP plays role TNT structure function unknown. Here, analyzing F-actin localization by laser-scan confocal microscopy followed 3D reconstruction (3D-LSCM) mitochondria dynamic live-cell time-lapse fluorescence microscopy, we show presence TNTs containing functional human cells. Taking advantage super-resolution 3D-LSCM, GFAP-positive TNT-like structures resected as well. Using H2O2 or pro-apoptotic toxin staurosporine (STS), that strongly increase during oxidative stress apoptosis cell line. Culturing with STS-treated STS triggers formation between them. Finally, provide evidence co-localize at tip close-ended inside receiving STS-GBM Summarizing, here structural component generated upregulated response stress, interacts transfer. These findings contribute elucidate molecular highlighting suggesting this stimuli.