Tunneling Nanotubes Provide a Unique Conduit for Intercellular Transfer of Cellular Contents in Human Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033093
• Publication Date: 2012-03-09T19:52:59Z
• Authors: Emil Lou; Sho Fujisawa; Alexei Morozov; Afsar Barlas; Yevgeniy Romin; Yildirim Dogan; Sepideh Gholami; André L. Moreira; Katia Manova-Todo...; Malcolm A. S. Moore
• Keywords: Mesothelioma; 0301 basic medicine; Microscopy, Confocal; Nanotubes; Science; Pleural Neoplasms; Q; R; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Biological Transport; Time-Lapse Imaging; 3. Good health; Microscopy, Electron; 03 medical and health sciences; Cell Line, Tumor; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Medicine; Humans; Research Article

Tunneling nanotubes are long, non-adherent F-actin-based cytoplasmic extensions which connect proximal or distant cells and facilitate intercellular transfer. The identification of has been limited to cell lines, their role in cancer remains unclear. We detected tunneling mesothelioma lines primary human cells. Using a low serum, hyperglycemic, acidic growth medium, we stimulated nanotube formation bidirectional transfer vesicles, proteins, mitochondria between Notably, developed malignant normal mesothelial cells, but not Immunofluorescent staining revealed actin-based assembly structure. Metformin an mTor inhibitor, Everolimus, effectively suppressed formation. Confocal microscopy with 3-dimensional reconstructions sectioned surgical specimens demonstrated for the first time presence lung adenocarcinoma tumor specimens. provide evidence tumors propose that these structures play important pathogenesis invasion.