Cellular microvesicle pathways can be targeted to transfer genetic information between non-immune cells.

ABSTRACT: Eukaryotic cell communication is based on protein signaling cascades that require direct cell-cell apposition, or receptor engagement by secreted molecules. The transmission of genetic information is thought to be uncommon, apart from recent reports of exosomal RNA transfer in immune and glioblastoma cells. We wished to examine if existing microvesicle pathways could be directly targeted for the horizontal transfer of RNA genomes in less specialized cell types. Using replication-deficient retrovirus vector, studies herein confirm that a range of cells routinely sequester a small population of these RNA genomes in a non-canonical compartment, refractory to antibody neutralization and unaffected by specific pharmacological inhibition of pathways involved in conventional viral trafficking. Ou

SUBMITTER: Skinner AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2704871 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature