Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol. 2010 May-Jun;2(3):260-76. doi: 10.1002/wnan.80.
Cell-cell communication is critical to the development, maintenance, and function of multicellular organisms. Classical mechanisms for intercellular communication include secretion of molecules into the extracellular space and transport of small molecules through gap junctions. Recent reports suggest that cells also can communicate over long distances via a network of transient intercellular nanotubes. Such nanotubes have been shown to mediate intercellular transfer of organelles as well as membrane components and cytoplasmic molecules. Moreover, intercellular nanotubes have been observed in vivo and have been shown to enhance the transmission of pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and prions in vitro. These studies indicate that intercellular nanotubes may play a role both in normal physiology and in disease.
细胞间通讯对于多细胞生物的发育、维持和功能至关重要。细胞间通讯的经典机制包括将分子分泌到细胞外空间和通过间隙连接运输小分子。最近的报告表明，细胞还可以通过瞬时细胞间纳米管网络进行长距离通讯。已经表明，这种纳米管介导细胞器以及膜成分和细胞质分子的细胞间转移。此外，已经在体内观察到细胞间纳米管，并已证明它们可以增强人免疫缺陷病毒 (HIV-1) 和朊病毒等病原体的体外传播。这些研究表明，细胞间纳米管可能在正常生理和疾病中都发挥作用。
