Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
Volume 23, Issue 10, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105487
Keywords
tunneling nanotubes; nucleic acid transfer; intercellular communication
Funding
- National Cancer Institute [R01 CA217833]
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Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are membranous protrusions that connect distant cells and enable the transfer of nuclear and cytoplasmic cargo between cells. They have been observed to transport various molecules, including DNA, RNA, and drugs. This mechanism of transfer has implications in both physiological and pathological conditions, and could potentially be applied in cancer, immunity, and neurological diseases.
Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are thin, F-actin-based membranous protrusions that connect distant cells and can provide e a novel mechanism for intercellular communication. By establishing cytoplasmic continuity between interconnected cells, TNTs enable the bidirectional transfer of nuclear and cytoplasmic cargo, including organelles, nucleic acids, drugs, and pathogenic molecules. TNT-mediated nucleic acid transfer provides a unique opportunity for donor cells to directly alter the genome, transcriptome, and metabolome of recipient cells. TNTs have been reported to transport DNA, mitochondrial DNA, mRNA, viral RNA, and non-coding RNAs, such as miRNA and siRNA. This mechanism of transfer is observed in physiological as well as pathological conditions, and has been implicated in the progression of disease. Herein, we provide a concise overview of TNTs' structure, mechanisms of biogenesis, and the functional effects of TNT-mediated intercellular transfer of nucleic acid cargo. Furthermore, we highlight the potential translational applications of TNT-mediated nucleic acid transfer in cancer, immunity, and neurological diseases.
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