tumor-microenvironment
A tunneling nanotube (TNT) is a thin, actin-based membranous channel that forms a direct physical connection between two cells, allowing organelles, proteins, and other cellular material to pass between them without the cells fully fusing. TNTs are a major route by which mitochondria are transferred between cells, including from immune cells to tumor cells, and their formation can be disrupted pharmacologically (e.g., with actin inhibitors) or genetically to block this intercellular exchange.
Related terms
Source papers
- Mitochondrial transfer from immune to tumor cells enables lymph node metastasis doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2025.12.014