Navigation Links
'Underground' tunnels discovered as means for communication between immune system cells

University of Pittsburgh researchers first to report function of tunneling nanotubules

Immune system cells are connected to each other by an extensive network of tiny tunnels that, like a building's hidden pneumatic tube system, are used to shoot signals to distant cells. This surprising discovery, being reported by two University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers in the September issue of the journal Immunity, may explain how an immune response can be so exquisitely swift. The research not only proves cells other than neurons are capable of long-distance communication, but it reveals a hereto-unknown mechanism cells use for exchanging information.

Blood-derived dendritic cells and macrophages, both antigen-presenting cells, make use of these so-called tunneling nanotubules to relay molecular messages, report Simon C. Watkins, Ph.D., and Russell D. Salter, Ph.D. Further research may show there are additional cell types with these microscopic tunnel connections. Thus far, their studies suggest the tunnels do not exist between commonly used fibroblast and tumor cell lines.

Interestingly, if not for a minor mishap while carrying out an experiment, the authors might not have discovered the existence of these physical structures and conducted the studies that revealed their role in intercellular communication.

Using a custom-built, multi-camera live cell microscopic imaging system, they report that, in a matter of seconds, dendritic cells and macrophages can send waves of calcium and other small molecules to cells hundreds of micrometers away. Each nanotubule measures between 35 and 200 nanometers across - 5000 times smaller than the width of a human hair - and at any given time, cells may have up to 75 of these extensions, each of varying lengths.

"Considering their scale, these nanotubules are allowing communication between fairly distant cells. If instead of a culture dish we were talking about a large metropolitan are
'"/>

Source:University of Pittsburgh Medical Center


Page: 1 2 3 4

Related biology news :

1. Newly-discovered class of genes determines ?and restricts ?stem cell fate
2. Newly discovered virus linked to childhood lung disorders and Kawasaki disease
3. New protein discovered by Hebrew University researchers
4. New RNA polymerase discovered in plants
5. Newly discovered pathway might help in design of cancer drugs
6. New tumor-suppressor gene discovered
7. Newly discovered protein an important tool for sleeping sickness research
8. Function of new cancer genes discovered
9. Evidence of 600-million-year old fungi-algae symbiosis discovered in marine fossils
10. Natural tumor suppressor in body discovered by UCSD medical researchers
11. Enzymes newly discovered role may make it target for arthritis treatment

Post Your Comments:
(Date:11/19/2009)...s are revealing the genetic instructions inside co...ize, has one of the most complex sequences of DNA ...n genomicist David Schwartz, who was one of more t...ence . , "The maize genome is a true maze full ...led would-be sequencers for years," says Schwartz....
(Date:11/19/2009)...c diversity in maize, also known as corn, research...e map that should pave the way to significant impr..., fuel, animal feed and fiber around the world. ,... a haplotype map, charts genetic diversity and rec... maize. The research team, led by U.S. Department ...
(Date:11/19/2009)...ss Hardison, T. Ming Chu Professor of Biochemistry...ard unraveling how regulatory proteins control the...d growth. Working with collaborators including Drs...pital of Philadelphia, they focused specifically o... (erythrocytes). These cells contain large amounts...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Sweet corn story begins in UW-Madison lab 2Sweet corn story begins in UW-Madison lab 3New research into the mechanisms of gene regulation 2New research into the mechanisms of gene regulation 3New research into the mechanisms of gene regulation 4New research into the mechanisms of gene regulation 5Seasoned Insurance and Managed Care Senior Executive Joins Connextions Inc Board of Directors 57104 1Seasoned Insurance and Managed Care Senior Executive Joins Connextions Inc Board of Directors 57104 2Seasoned Insurance and Managed Care Senior Executive Joins Connextions Inc Board of Directors 57104 3Data From Optimers Second Phase 3 Study of Prulifloxacin Presented at Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 28ICAAC 5001 1Data From Optimers Second Phase 3 Study of Prulifloxacin Presented at Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 28ICAAC 5001 2Data From Optimers Second Phase 3 Study of Prulifloxacin Presented at Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 28ICAAC 5001 3Data From Optimers Second Phase 3 Study of Prulifloxacin Presented at Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 28ICAAC 5001 4Data From Optimers Second Phase 3 Study of Prulifloxacin Presented at Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 28ICAAC 5001 5Video 3A Color of Hope 3A Because All Women Are Worth It 57100 1Video 3A Color of Hope 3A Because All Women Are Worth It 57100 2
...ous predators and consume a wide range of prey, wh...potheses have been proposed for why females eat ma...er and Ann Rypstra from Miami University in Ohio f...of the American Naturalist, that the answer may ... likely to be eaten if they are much smaller than ...
...to 40 years of conventional wisdom, a new analysis...ggests that old growth forests are usually "carbon...from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change fo...around the world are not protected by internationa...ance in the national "carbon budgets" as outlined ...
...itical stage of pregnancy implantation of the emb...tal to the growth of new blood vessels that sustai...ced in higher quantities in the presence of estrog...the first study to detail the mechanism by which t...tion and blood-vessel growth in the uterus during ...
Other Biology News:In spiders, size matters: Small males are more often meals 2Old growth forests are valuable carbon sinks 2Old growth forests are valuable carbon sinks 3Gap junction protein vital to successful pregnancy, researchers find 2
(Date:11/18/2009)..., RICHMOND, Calif., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCal...nnounced today that data from the University of Pe...tudy of Sangamo,s zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) based...y and prematurely disclosed on the internet. ,,...iversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine from a...
(Date:11/18/2009)..., EAST GRINSTEAD, West Sussex, U.K. and CLEVELAND... a Magellan Biosciences business and premier provi...cts for microbiology labs, has expanded its East G...elopment facility to meet increasing global demand...ibility and identification testing. The expanded f...
(Date:11/18/2009)... Promega Corporation and SwitchGe...zing DNA-protein interactions. , ... -- Promega Corporation and SwitchGear Genomics an...in interactions. Results of a study using the Halo...says demonstrate the ability to correlate DNA bind...
(Date:11/18/2009)... , MONROVIA, Calif. and HANGZHOU, China, Nov. ...p . ("Niusule" or the "Company") (OTC Bulletin Bo...ocused on developing and selling nutritional produ...,s popular Gummy Bear products will be distributed...ny has entered into a one year distribution contra...
Breaking Biology Technology:Sangamo BioSciences Provides Update on Phase 1 Safety Trial of SB-728-T for HIV/AIDS 2TREK Diagnostic Systems Opens New U.K. Facility in East Grinstead to Meet Expanded Customer Demand for Microbiology Products 2TREK Diagnostic Systems Opens New U.K. Facility in East Grinstead to Meet Expanded Customer Demand for Microbiology Products 3TREK Diagnostic Systems Opens New U.K. Facility in East Grinstead to Meet Expanded Customer Demand for Microbiology Products 4Promega and SwitchGear Publish Findings from Combined Technologies that Correlate Binding Events and Transcriptional Activity 2Niusule Expands Geographic Footprint in China 2Niusule Expands Geographic Footprint in China 3
...ng the best places to work for professionals in th...ecause they offer employee incentives designed to ... Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. , Milwauke... Schneider National Inc. , Green Bay, all fell wi...panies complied by Computerworld Magazine . Ameri...
...a cease-and-desist letter for the website FreeShow...of SC Johnson products for spam purposes. , ,FreeS...Carlisle, Pennsylvania, offers a free Scrubbing Bu...ser,s e-mail address. According to SC Johnson, a g...roducts, users are then subjected to pages of adve...
...iscussion in the blogosphere, a new comparison sho...es has been released in Madison for public beta te... , ,The site, Jellyfish.com , is designed to be m...nsumers and sellers than the search engines from G...ng a twist on the standard online advertising mech...
Other Biology Technology:Wisconsin companies among Best IT Workplaces 2Jellyfish launches comparative shopping website 2
UCOM microplate photoactivator from Panomics
Rabbit Anti-IFRD2 Polyclonal Antibody, Unconjugated from Proteintech Group, Inc.
Human Serum Off The Clot from Lifeblood Medical, Inc.
Rabbit Anti-p38 alpha Polyclonal Antibody, Unconjugated from R&D Systems
Biology Products: