Biopolis Dresden Imaging Platform

Multi-level communication of human retinal pigment epithelial cells via tunneling nanotubes.

Wittig D, Wang X, Walter C, Gerdes HH, Funk RH, Roehlecke C

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) may offer a very specific and effective way of intercellular communication. Here we investigated TNTs in the human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell line ARPE-19. Morphology of TNTs was examined by immunostaining and scanning electron microscopy. To determine the function of TNTs between cells, we studied the TNT-dependent intercellular communication at different levels including electrical and calcium signalling, small molecular diffusion as well as mitochondrial re-localization. Further, intercellular organelles transfer was assayed by FACS analysis.

Fig.8 taken from Wittig et al, 2012.
  • PLoS ONE 2012 Mar 22;7(3):e33195
  • 2012
  • Medical Biology
  • 22457742
  • PubMed

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