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Mechanisms for the formation of membranous nanostructures in cell-to-cell communication

Abstract

Cells interact by exchanging material and information. Two methods of cell-to-cell communication are by means of microvesicles and by means of nanotubes. Both microvesicles and nanotubes derive from the cell membrane and are able to transport the contents of the inner solution. In this review, we describe two physical mechanisms involved in the formation of microvesicles and nanotubes: curvature-mediated lateral redistribution of membrane components with the formation of membrane nanodomains; and plasmamediated attractive forces between membranes. These mechanisms are clinically relevant since they can be affected by drugs. In particular, the underlying mechanism of heparin’s role as an anticoagulant and tumor suppressor is the suppression of microvesicluation due to plasma-mediated attractive interaction between membranes.

Abbreviations

cardiolipin:

1,1′,2,2′-tetraoleoyl cardiolipin

FITC:

fluorescein isothiocyanate

GPVs:

giant phospholipid vesicles

HLA, -B, -C:

human leukocyte antigens of class I

MHC:

major histocompatibility complex

MVs:

microvesicles

POPC:

1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-snglycero-3-phosphocholine

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Correspondence to Aleš Iglič.

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The content of this Review was first presented in a shortened form at the 12th Mejbaum-Katzenellenbogen Seminar “Membrane Skeleton. Recent Advances and Future Research Directions”, June 15–18, 2008, Zakopane, Poland. Publication cost was partially covered by the organizers of this meeting.

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Schara, K., Janša, V., Šuštar, V. et al. Mechanisms for the formation of membranous nanostructures in cell-to-cell communication. Cell Mol Biol Lett 14, 636–656 (2009). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-009-0018-0

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