Membrane nanotubes:Novel communication between distant cells  

作　　者：ZHANG JiangHui ZHANG YouYi 

机构地区：[1]Institute of Vascular Medicine of Peking University Third Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Molecular Biology and Regulatory Peptides of Ministry of Health, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education and Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Receptors Research

出　　处：《Science China(Life Sciences)》2013年第11期994-999,共6页中国科学（生命科学英文版）

基　　金：supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2013CB933701);the Projects of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30910103902);the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81270159)

摘　　要：The many kinds of cell structures involved in cell-cell communication include tight junction,adherens junction and gap junction,but almost all are between adjacent cells.Recently,a general and dynamic membrane tether,termed tunneling nanotubes or membrane nanotubes(MNTs),was discovered to be involved in communication between distant cells.By facilitating intercellular communication,MNTs contribute to many biological functions and pathologic changes in cells.Many works have revealed the structure,formation and functional properties of MNTs.However,as novel structures,further research is needed.The many kinds of cell structures involved in cell-cell communication include tight junction, adherens junction and gap junc- tion, but almost all are between adjacent cells. Recently, a general and dynamic membrane tether, termed tunneling nanotubes or membrane nanotubes （MNTs）, was discovered to be involved in communication between distant cells. By facilitating inter- cellular communication, MNTs contribute to many biological functions and pathologic changes in cells. Many works have re- vealed the structure, formation and functional properties of MNTs. However, as novel structures, further research is needed.

关 键 词：membrane nanotubes MICROSTRUCTURE physiological functions cell communication 

分 类 号：TB383.1[一般工业技术—材料科学与工程] Q25[生物学—细胞生物学]