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

acrophages to release bursts of calcium.

Returning to dendritic cells, they found that by giving a deliberate poke with an empty microinjection tip it caused the same reaction. But why some cells responded and others did not made Drs. Salter and Watkins wonder if there was some sort of physical structure connecting only those cells that discharged. A literature search turned up a handful of papers describing tunneling nanotubules, and further imaging using the highest magnification possible disclosed their presence in both the dendritic cells and macrophages.

In their most definitive experiment, the researchers placed dendritic cells, macrophages and a small amount of the E. coli mixture in the same culture dish. The dendritic cells, as would be expected, fluxed calcium in response to the E. coli. But a few seconds later, calcium could also be seen shooting through the tiny tunnels extending from dendritic cells to neighboring macrophages.

"This may solve some of the mystery of how a local stimulus directed at a very small number of cells can be amplified and result in a successful immune response," explained Dr. Watkins.

"Quite possibly, the tunneling nanotubules enable a small number of dendritic cells with captured antigens to reach other dendritic cells in lymph nodes, increasing the number of these cells capable of stimulating T lymphocytes," added Dr. Salter.

The finding that nanotubules play a role in sending molecular signals to other immune system cells calls into question the long-held belief that immune system cells talk to one another solely by secreting substances such as cytokines, the authors say. It now seems clear that intercellular communication is much more complicated. While it would be fascinating to see this interplay inside living tissue, detecting the tiny tubules in such a complex environment may be nearly impossible with current technology.


'"/>

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:11/23/2009)...ersity of Southern California biomedical engineer ...op a new tool to help clinicians distinguish cardi...ronic problems manageable with drugs and lifestyle...inserted into the arteries feeding the heart, offe... of these blood vessels, often revealing deposits ...
(Date:11/23/2009)...ians like frogs and toads have existed for 360 mil... but a new aquatic fungus is threatening to make m...e November issue of Microbiology Today . , The...s found to be associated with waves of amphibian e...stralia in the 1990,s. Bd infects over 350 amphibi...
(Date:11/23/2009)...tional Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGM...), is investing $42.3 million for grants in scient...GO)." NIH developed the GO grant program to stimul...s provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestme...jects that promise to have a significant impact on...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Stable plaque or heart attack plaque? USC researcher builds new sensor to tell which is which 2NIGMS invests in scientific Grand Opportunities with Recovery Act funds 2NIGMS invests in scientific Grand Opportunities with Recovery Act funds 3New Polls Reports Highlight The Need To Update The U S Food Safety System And To Make Our Food Safe For The Holidays 61258 1New Polls Reports Highlight The Need To Update The U S Food Safety System And To Make Our Food Safe For The Holidays 61258 2New Polls Reports Highlight The Need To Update The U S Food Safety System And To Make Our Food Safe For The Holidays 61258 3Mesa Labs Increases Quarterly Dividend 61255 1Reid Moves Toward Progressive Financing Measure to Help Fund Health Care Reform 61252 1Reid Moves Toward Progressive Financing Measure to Help Fund Health Care Reform 61252 2
...gists at the EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de...c pathway that cells use to defend themselves agai...e discovery of this pathway, published in the Sept...nderstanding of how cells mount a survival respons... gives insight into the more general process of ce...
...e University researchers have developed a biochip ...nd is capable of obtaining 60 times more data in j...nology. , In the near term, the biochip could spe...g development for muscle and nerve disorders like ...eties. , "Instead of doing one experiment per ...
...hourly levels of air pollution, more than double t...ublished ahead of print in Occupational and Enviro...tory and cardiovascular problems tends to be linke...ther than variations in hourly levels. , The rese...ged 65 years and older, occurring between January ...
Other Biology News:A new understanding of how cells defend themselves against bacterial pore-forming toxins 2A new understanding of how cells defend themselves against bacterial pore-forming toxins 3New biochip helps study living cells, may speed drug development 2New biochip helps study living cells, may speed drug development 3
(Date:11/23/2009)...signC or p.(IDC)announcedtodaythatDr.BruceL.A.Cart...cessfultrackrec or dinbiotechnologyexecutivemanage...netics,inSeattle,WAandChiefScientificOfficeratNovo.../www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091123/SF15228 ) ,...ficercommented,"IamdelightedtowelcomeDr.BruceCarte...
(Date:11/23/2009)...l/--CornerstoneTherapeuticsInc.(Nasdaq: CRTX ),asp...elopingandcommercializingsignificantproductsprimar...edthatCraigA.Collard,PresidentandChiefExecutiveOff...nualPiperJaffrayHealthCareConferenceat3:30PMETonWe...YorkCity. ,, AliveaudioandarchivedwebcastofCorn...
(Date:11/20/2009)...stCall/ -- Dendreon Corporation (Nasdaq: DNDN ) t...tration (FDA) provided written acknowledgement tha...ion (BLA) for PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T) is a c...tion Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of May 1, 2010...ded BLA. Dendreon is seeking licensure for PROVEN...
(Date:11/20/2009)...ently announced that a free webinar, “Roller...rticle Characterization”, will be presented ...tion of in situ particle characterization is demon...ies of roller compaction runs while varying raw ma... , (PRWEB) November 20, 2...
Breaking Biology Technology:Immune Design Corp. Announces Appointment of Dr. Bruce L.A. Carter as Executive Chairman and Director 2Cornerstone Therapeutics to Present at the 21st Annual Piper Jaffray Health Care Conference 2Dendreon Receives FDA Acknowledgement of Complete Response 2Dendreon Receives FDA Acknowledgement of Complete Response 3Roller Compaction Process Optimization Using At-Line Particle Characterization 2
... the advanced steam methane reforming reactor, whe...process. Mark Baffa looks at core of the reacto.... Modine Manufacturing Co. and ChevronTexaco T...National Hydrogen Association conference in Washin...tract hydrogen from natural gas. , ,Modine, a firm...
... creative idea or invention, or you are interested...t to protect, the first thing you do is contact a ... believe that you have protected your invention, s...ventors and entrepreneurs should heed Mom,s sage a... and know where you are going before you start on ...
...onic Foundry Inc. has added five universities to t... that use its Mediasite rich media system to power...ty of Colorado College of Engineering and Applied ...ity-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Northwestern Uni...ned on as new customers. , ,Mediasite is a record...
Other Biology Technology:Modine Manufacturing makes hydrogen generator with ChevronTexaco 2Modine Manufacturing makes hydrogen generator with ChevronTexaco 3Modine Manufacturing makes hydrogen generator with ChevronTexaco 4Five patent tips for start-up companies 2Five patent tips for start-up companies 3Sonic Foundry gains five university clients for Mediasite 2
Canine IL-10 ELISA Kit from R&D Systems
Mouse Anti-Human COMPLEMENT SC5B-9 (NEOANTIGEN) Monoclonal Antibody, Unconjugated, Clone 3R2/0 from AbD Serotec
Rabbit Anti-NEOPTERIN Polyclonal Antibody, Unconjugated from AbD Serotec
Mouse Anti-Human MBP aa67-74 Monoclonal Antibody, Unconjugated from AbD Serotec
Biology Products: