LPO-COPEA, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil.
Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil.
Eur Biophys J. 2019 Oct;48(7):593-598. doi: 10.1007/s00249-019-01388-x. Epub 2019 Jul 6.
Cell membrane nanotubes, variously referred to as tunneling nanotubes and cytonemes, are currently the focus of much interest. They are of ancient origin, as indicated by their opportunistic use for cell invasion by pathogens, including bacteria and virus, and by their employment in bacterial networking. They play a significant role in cancer invasion and in the explanation of glioblastoma resistance to treatment. Their structure and properties have been investigated with optical tweezers. They have been detected in vivo. Their role in the immune system was early verified. Very recently, it was shown that they share many properties with nerve synapses, including the roles of glutamate and Ca ions. Similar features have also been observed in primitive plants. These results support the conjecture that, besides their roles in immunology, developmental biology and cancer, cell membrane nanotubes are the ancestors of the nervous system.
细胞膜纳米管，也被称为隧道纳米管和丝状伪足，目前备受关注。它们起源古老，如它们被病原体（包括细菌和病毒）利用进行细胞入侵以及在细菌网络中的应用所表明的那样。它们在癌症入侵和解释胶质母细胞瘤对治疗的抗性方面发挥着重要作用。它们的结构和特性已用光镊进行了研究。已经在体内检测到它们。它们在免疫系统中的作用很早就得到了验证。最近，人们发现它们与神经突触有许多共同的特性，包括谷氨酸和钙离子的作用。在原始植物中也观察到了类似的特征。这些结果支持了这样的假设，即除了在免疫学、发育生物学和癌症中的作用外，细胞膜纳米管还是神经系统的祖先。
