title: Tunneling nanotubes: A possible highway in the spreading of tau and other prion-like proteins in neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: The mechanisms of intercellular spreading of amyloidogenic proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases have yet to be fully elucidated. While secretion has been implicated in the transfer of many proteins, including prions and α-synuclein, tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) have also been demonstrated for prions and mutant Huntingtin. Here, we provide further evidence that Tau aggregates, which have been demonstrated to predominantly be transferred via secretion, can also be found in TNTs. Additionally, cells that have taken up Tau have increased TNT formation. Coupled with previous evidence that other amyloidogenic aggregates also induce TNT formation we propose that misfolded protein aggregates can, through a common mechanism, promote the formation of TNTs and thereby their own intercellular transfer, contributing to the propagation of pathology.
authors.affiliation: a Unité Trafic Membranaire et Pathogenèse , Institut Pasteur , Paris CEDEX 15 , France.
authors.forename: Saida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abounit
authors.affiliation: b Taub Institute, Columbia University Medical Center , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Jessica W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: b Taub Institute, Columbia University Medical Center , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.affiliation: a Unité Trafic Membranaire et Pathogenèse , Institut Pasteur , Paris CEDEX 15 , France.
authors.forename: Guiliana Soraya
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Victoria
authors.affiliation: a Unité Trafic Membranaire et Pathogenèse , Institut Pasteur , Paris CEDEX 15 , France.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zurzolo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D043942:Nanotubes; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072002:Prion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000072002:Prion Proteins; D016875:tau Proteins