CD44 facilitates adhesive interactions in airineme-mediated intercellular signaling.

ABSTRACT: Specialized cellular protrusions facilitate local intercellular communication in various species, including mammals. Among these, airinemes play a crucial role in pigment pattern formation in zebrafish by mediating long-distance Notch signaling between pigment cells. Remarkably, airinemes exhibit large vesicle-like structures at their tips, which are pulled by macrophages and delivered to target cells. The interaction between macrophages and Delta-ligand-carrying airineme vesicles is essential for initiating airineme-mediated signaling, yet the molecular details of this interaction remain elusive. Through high-resolution live imaging, genetic in vivo manipulations, and in vitro adhesion assays, we found that adhesive interactions via the extracellular domain of CD44, a class

SUBMITTER: Bowman RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12491826 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature