Tunnelling nanotubes between neuronal and microglial cells allow bi-directional transfer of α-Synuclein and mitochondria.

ABSTRACT: Tunnelling Nanotubes (TNTs) facilitate contact-mediated intercellular communication over long distances. Material transfer via TNTs can range from ions and intracellular organelles to protein aggregates and pathogens. Prion-like toxic protein aggregates accumulating in several neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, have been shown to spread via TNTs not only between neurons, but also between neurons-astrocytes, and neurons-pericytes, indicating the importance of TNTs in mediating neuron-glia interactions. TNT-like structures were also reported between microglia, however, their roles in neuron-microglia interaction remain elusive. In this work, we quantitatively characterise microglial TNTs and their cytoskeletal composition, and demonstr

SUBMITTER: Chakraborty R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10195781 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature