AUTHOR=Ariazi Jennifer , Benowitz Andrew , De Biasi Vern , Den Boer Monique L. , Cherqui Stephanie , Cui Haifeng , Douillet Nathalie , Eugenin Eliseo A. , Favre David , Goodman Spencer , Gousset Karine , Hanein Dorit , Israel David I. , Kimura Shunsuke , Kirkpatrick Robert B. , Kuhn Nastaran , Jeong Claire , Lou Emil , Mailliard Robbie , Maio Stephen , Okafo George , Osswald Matthias , Pasquier Jennifer , Polak Roel , Pradel Gabriele , de Rooij Bob , Schaeffer Peter , Skeberdis Vytenis A. , Smith Ian F. , Tanveer Ahmad , Volkmann Niels , Wu Zhenhua , Zurzolo Chiara TITLE=Tunneling Nanotubes and Gap Junctions–Their Role in Long-Range Intercellular Communication during Development, Health, and Disease Conditions JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience VOLUME=10 YEAR=2017 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2017.00333 DOI=10.3389/fnmol.2017.00333 ISSN=1662-5099 ABSTRACT=

Cell-to-cell communication is essential for the organization, coordination, and development of cellular networks and multi-cellular systems. Intercellular communication is mediated by soluble factors (including growth factors, neurotransmitters, and cytokines/chemokines), gap junctions, exosomes and recently described tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). It is unknown whether a combination of these communication mechanisms such as TNTs and gap junctions may be important, but further research is required. TNTs are long cytoplasmic bridges that enable long-range, directed communication between connected cells. The proposed functions of TNTs are diverse and not well understood but have been shown to include the cell-to-cell transfer of vesicles, organelles, electrical stimuli and small molecules. However, the exact role of TNTs and gap junctions for intercellular communication and their impact on disease is still uncertain and thus, the subject of much debate. The combined data from numerous laboratories indicate that some TNT mediate a long-range gap junctional communication to coordinate metabolism and signaling, in relation to infectious, genetic, metabolic, cancer, and age-related diseases. This review aims to describe the current knowledge, challenges and future perspectives to characterize and explore this new intercellular communication system and to design TNT-based therapeutic strategies.