Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells interactions in a stress environment via tunneling nanotubes.

ABSTRACT: This study aims to demonstrate the formation of tunneling tubes (TNTs) between adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs) and retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE-1) and their alterations in response to experimental stress conditions. Serum starvation was employed as a stress condition to induce TNTs between the AdMSC and RPE-1 cells. The presence of TNTs was demonstrated through immunofluorescence microscopy, while scanning electron microscopy was utilized to determine the average thickness. Cell viability was assessed after stress by CellTiter-Glo, and H2DCFH-DA probes evaluated the cells' reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Further, JC-1 labelled mitochondrial exchange between cells via TNTs was confirmed by time-lapse imaging. A transmembrane culture system was employed to inhi

SUBMITTER: Gozel M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12321103 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature