2023-05-18 00:58:07
Spanish researchers have identified a new communication mechanism between fat cells. The finding, which will be presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) to be held in Dublin (Ireland), opens new avenues of research for the treatment of obesity.
The discovery, made by the group led by Ana Gordon, from the Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology from University of Córdoba and IMIBIC (Spain), focuses on structures called tunneling nanotubes.
Discovered in 2004, these long, thin membrane structures form connections between cells. They allow distant cells to communicate directly and to transfer cargo (such as mitochondria, RNA, and proteins) between cells.
They are implicated in the development of many diseases, such as cancer and infectious diseases. However, until now its role in adipose tissue and obesity had not been studied.
The cells of any tissue, including adipose tissue, he explains to ABC Salud GordonThey function as a society, communicating with each other to generate a common response. “Membrane nanotubes or TNTs are one of the possible ways in which cells communicate with each other and have not been described among adipocytes, the central cells of adipose tissue. This finding is very relevant because different substances or cellular components are passed through these tubes, which connect the adipocytes together, including nanoparticles.”
Gordon used techniques inmunocitoquímicas (in which antibodies are used to identify compounds of interest), 3D cultures, and several different types of microscopy to examine fat cells for the presence of the main markers associated with tunneling nanotubes.
In experiments with adipocytes (fat cells) at different stages of maturity, the formation of tunneling nanotubes between distant cells was identified both in adipocytes in the early stages of maturity and in mature adipocytes.
Nanotubes transport organelles between cells, such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum vesicles. Nanoparticles were also transmitted to distant cells through the nanotubes.
nanoparticles, particles a thousand times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, can travel through nanotubes is incredibly exciting
Gordon says, “The discovery that nanoparticles, particles a thousand times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, can travel through nanotubes is incredibly exciting.”
‘Nanoparticles have a number of advantages, such as protecting drugs from degradation, which means they have great potential for use in drug delivery and therapies that currently fail with conventional dosage forms.
“In addition, adipocytes in adipose tissue in obesity are more numerous and larger, making it difficult for drugs transported by the blood to access. In the future, it might be possible to use nanotubes to deliver drugs in nanoparticle form to these hard-to-reach fat cells.”
Other experiments demonstrated that the environment surrounding adipocytes affects the number of tunneling nanotubes. Proinflammatory stimuli can decrease the number of tunneling nanotubes, while elevated glucose and insulin levels can increase the number of connections. This raises the possibility of stimulating nanotube formation prior to drug delivery.
This finding is very relevant because different substances or cellular components are passed through these tubes, which connect the adipocytes together, including nanoparticles.
“We have demonstrated, for the first time, the existence of an unprecedented communication mechanism between adipocytes,” says Gordon.
«»Our findings on the communication between adipocytes through membrane nanotubes and the participation of these structures in the transport of nanoparticles between cells, which would allow a greater diffusion of drugs, opens the door to possible routes of effective therapeutic administration against to obesity”.
Our next steps are focused on unraveling the mechanisms that control the formation of membrane nanotubes between adipocytes in order to “take advantage” of them in the diffusion of nanoparticles loaded with different drugs. Still we need more time to be able to apply it in clinical practice, but knowing it could help in the treatment not only of obesity but also in other diseases.
“This network of tunneled nanotubes opens up the possibility of novel and much-needed therapies against obesity,” he adds.
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