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Intercellular communication: diverse structures for exchange of genetic information

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 13, pages 328–335 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

An emerging concept is that cellular communication in mammals can be mediated by the exchange of genetic information, mainly in the form of microRNAs. This can occur when extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes, secreted by a donor cell are taken up by an acceptor cell. Transfer of genetic material can also occur through intimate membrane contacts between donor and acceptor cells. Specialized cell–cell contacts, such as synapses, have the potential to combine these modes of genetic transfer.

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Figure 1: Long-distance transfer of genetic material in extracellular vesicles.
Figure 2: Connective structures for short-distance transfer of genetic material.
Figure 3: The immune synapse acts as a platform facilitating the passage of genetic material between cells.

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Acknowledgements

M.M. is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Instituto de Salud Carlos III). F.S-.M. is supported by grants SAF2011-25834 and ERC-2011-AdG 294340-GENTRIS. Editorial support was provided by S. Bartlett. The authors thank P. Vera, S. Moreno, M. Vicente-Manzanares, M. Manzanares, F. Baixauli, C. Gutierrez-Vazquez and C. Villarroya for critical reading of the manuscript. The Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Pro-CNIC Foundation.

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  1. Maria Mittelbrunn is at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain.,

    Maria Mittelbrunn

  2. Francisco Sánchez-Madrid is at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares and the Instituto Investigación Sanitaria Hospital de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Diego de León, 62, 28006 Madrid, Spain.,

    Francisco Sánchez-Madrid

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Mittelbrunn, M., Sánchez-Madrid, F. Intercellular communication: diverse structures for exchange of genetic information. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 13, 328–335 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3335

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