Abstract: Background. Cancer has traditionally been considered as a disease resulting from gene mutations. New findings in biology are challenging gene-centered explanations of cancer progression and redirecting them to the non-genetic origins of tumorigenicity. It has become clear that intercellular communication plays a crucial role in cancer progression. Among the most intriguing ways of intercellular communication is that via extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are membrane structures released from various types of cells. After separation from the mother membrane, EVs become mobile and may travel from the extracellular space to blood and other body fluids. Conclusions. Recently it has been shown that tumour cells are particularly prone to vesiculation and that tumour-derived EVs can carry proteins, lipids and nucleic acids causative of cancer progression. The uptake of tumour-derived EVs by noncancerous cells can change their normal phenotype to cancerous. The suppression of vesiculation could slow down tumour growth and the spread of metastases. The purpose of this review is to highlight examples of EV-mediated cancer phenotypic transformation in the light of possible therapeutic applications.Published in DiRROS: 03.04.2024; Views: 283; Downloads: 259 Full text (864,38 KB)This document has many files! More...
Abstract: Background. The aim of this work was to study the configuration of the microtubules in the cytochalasin B treated V-79 cells in connection to the cell shape and to see whether there are any similarities to the phenomena taking place in phospholipid vesicles. Subjects and methods. An experiment wasperformed where cytochalasin B was added to the V-79 cells (lung fibroblasts of Chinese hamster). Results. The cell shape changed from an elongated one into the shape with a profile resembling the Greek letter phi. The microtubules were found to be organized into a rod within the symmetry axis of the cell. Conclusion. As similar shapes were previously observed also in the phospholipid vesicles with entrapped microtubule rods, our results support the hypothesis that similar physical mechanisms may pertain in simple systems as well as in living cells.Published in DiRROS: 22.01.2024; Views: 395; Downloads: 85 Full text (442,36 KB)
Published in DiRROS: 19.01.2024; Views: 391; Downloads: 91 Full text (556,60 KB)