After they become activated, the immune system’s macrophages recruit neighboring macrophages and other immune cells to inflammation sites and tumors. But the mechanisms by which activated macrophages contact distant cells are not well understood. In a paper published online on August 17 in Scientific Reports, Dianne Cox., Ph.D., and colleagues described how macrophages use a network of channels called tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) to communicate with other cells at long distances. Using multiple imaging techniques including super-resolution microscopy and live-cell imaging, the authors identified a group of essential molecules that macrophages use to assemble TNTs. The authors found that depletion of any of these molecules can impair signal transfer between cells and could potentially disturb normal physiological immune responses. The study’s first author is Ph.D. candidate Samer Hanna. Dr. Cox is associate professor of anatomy and structural biology and of developmental and molecular biology.
Posted on: Thursday, September 28, 2017