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Role of Tunneling Nanotubules in the Cross-Talk Between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Target Cells

  • Cell:Cell Interactions in Stem Cell Maintenance (D Bonnet, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review highlights recent advances in understanding of the role of tunneling nanotubules, with a focus on cancer: nanotubules are involved in chemoresistance, immunosuppression, and angiogenesis as well as metabolic changes in cancer cells.

Recent Findings

In recent years, we have seen the emergence of the importance of tunneling nanotubule (TNT) formation in intercellular communication of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) with immune cells and with cancer cells. The formation of these TNT is extremely plastic and dynamic forming in few minutes between MSC and the cancer cell in their microenvironment. Recent work highlights the role of TNT in the migration of membrane material, endosomes, organelles, viral particles, and even proteins or microRNAs. Moreover, mitochondria migrate actively through the tunneling nanotubules from MSC into target cells, significantly impacting the energetic state of the target cells.

Summary

This review reports the role of intercellular communications between stromal cells, immune cells, and cancer cells through tunneling nanotubule. Here, we focus on the essential in the induction of chemo-resistance and in the metabolic changes associated with carcinogenesis through the transfer of mitochondria from MSC to target cells. Future research will have to clarify what are the mechanism involved in the induction of these TNT and how they are modulated in the context of carcinogenesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy, INSERM, U1183, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, cedex 5 34295, Montpellier, France

    Christian Jorgensen

  2. Université de Montpellier, UFR de Médecine, Montpellier, France

    Christian Jorgensen

  3. Service d’Immuno-Rhumatologie Thérapeutique, CHU Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France

    Christian Jorgensen

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Correspondence to Christian Jorgensen.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cell:Cell Interactions in Stem Cell Maintenance

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Jorgensen, C. Role of Tunneling Nanotubules in the Cross-Talk Between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Target Cells. Curr Stem Cell Rep 5, 53–56 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40778-019-00154-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40778-019-00154-1

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