Cellular extensions | |
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This schematic illustrates the four different types of glial cells, all of which possess cytoplasmic processes: ependymal cells (light pink), astrocytes (green), microglia (red), and oligodendrocytes (light blue). Cell bodies of neurons are in yellow (Their axons are surrounded by myelin, produced by oligodendrocytes). |
Cellular extensions also known as cytoplasmic protrusions and cytoplasmic processes are those structures that project from different cells, in the body, or in other organisms. Many of the extensions are cytoplasmic protrusions such as the axon and dendrite of a neuron, known also as cytoplasmic processes.
Different glial cells project cytoplasmic processes. In the brain, the processes of astrocytes form terminal endfeet, foot processes that help to form protective barriers in the brain. In the kidneys specialised cells called podocytes extend processes that terminate in podocyte foot processes that cover capillaries in the nephron. End-processes may also be known as vascular footplates, and in general may exhibit a pyramidal or finger-like morphology. [1] [2] Mural cells such as pericytes extend processes to wrap around capillaries. [2]
Foot-like processes are also present in Müller glia (modified astrocytes of the retina), [3] pancreatic stellate cells, [4] dendritic cells, [5] oligodendrocytes, [6] and others. Microglia, which are notably smaller than macroglia, can also extend their end-processes to contact areas of capillaries that are devoid of astrocyte endfeet, and thereby contribute to the formation of the glia limitans. [7]
Other cellular extensions that protrude from the cell membrane are known as membrane protrusions or cell protrusions, also cell appendages, such as flagella, and microvilli. [8] [9] Microtentacles are cell protrusions attached to free-floating cells, associated with the spread of some cancer cells. [10]
In prokaryotes such protrusions are known as surface or cell-surface appendages and include flagella, pili, fimbriae, and nanowires. [11] [8] Some archaea possess very complex appendages known as hami. [12]
The cytoplasmic processes of a neuron are the axons and dendrites differentiated from the precursor neuronal processes known as neurites. [13] A dendritic spine is a membrane protrusion from a dendrite.
The processes of glial cells include contractile processes, and processes in astrocytes that terminate in foot processes known as endfeet.
The podocyte is a highly specialised epithelial cell in Bowman's capsule in the kidney. Primary processes of the podocytes form terminal foot processes. The podocyte foot processes wrap around the glomerular capillaries in the kidney to function in the filtration barrier.
The difference between foot processes, and lamellipodia, which are broad sheet-like protrusions, and filopodia, which are long slender pointed extensions, is that lamellipodia and filopodia are especially significant for cell movement and migration, and they are "macro" membrane protrusions. In contrast, foot processes interact with basement membranes, and are present at the "micro" scale. [1]
However, cellular extensions, in general, can be found on a larger "macro" scale, occupying relatively large areas of the cell membrane. [1] For example, microglia can use their primary processes to constantly monitor and evaluate alterations in the brain environment, and they can further deploy thin filopodia from these primary processes to expand their surveillance area. [14]
The arborization and branching of end-processes are one of the features responsible for the structural and functional similarities among various cell types. [note 1] Podocytes and pericytes share many physiological properties due to their large surface areas and intricate network of primary and secondary processes that wrap around their associated capillaries. [15] [16]
In addition, foot processes of podocytes and dendritic extensions of neurons exhibit comparable morphological features, and molecular machinery as they both share similar proteins found at both synapses and foot processes, such as synaptopodin and dendrin. [17] This analogy between them is further supported by their shared vulnerability to pathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and minimal change nephropathy, both of which are characterized by reduction and damage of dendritic spines and foot processes respectively. [18]
Membrane protrusions or cell appendages, extend from the cell membrane, and include microvilli, cilia, and flagella. [9] Microvilli increase the surface area of a tissue, such as from their abundance on tissue protrusions such as intestinal villi.
There is increasing evidence that membrane protrusions may act as platforms for the budding of extracellular vesicles. [19]
One key distinction between cellular processes and lamellipodia lies in the composition of their cytoskeletal elements. While cellular processes can be supported by any of the three major components of the cytoskeleton—microfilaments (actin filaments), intermediate filaments (IFs), or microtubules—, lamellipodia are primarily driven by the polymerization of actin microfilaments, not microtubules. [3] [20]
Microtubules are generally unable to generate the force required by lamellipodia for large-scale cell movement, as this requires a significant number of microtubules to reach the cell's leading edge in order to produce sufficient force to promote the development of significant protrusions and motility. As a result, lamellipodia are predominantly actin-based rather than microtubule-based. [20]
On the other hand, cellular processes can be:
Numerous imaging methods, such as immunohistochemistry and fluorescence microscopy, have enabled the precise targeting of, and are currently used to identify, visualize and localize specific marker proteins in foot processes, such as GFAP and synaptopodin. Such techniques can be used to stain and study cells or identify relevant pathological changes. [3] [24]
In cells with unique architecture, energy requirements can vary significantly among different cellular compartments. As a result, mitochondria, within such cells, demonstrate a non-uniform distribution, and can be strategically localized in regions with the greatest energy needs. [25]
In order to support the substantial metabolic demands of neurovascular coupling, astrocytic endfeet are loaded and packed with elongated and branched mitochondria. [26] This represents a marked departure from the typical pattern, wherein mitochondria generally tend to become smaller as their distance from the cell body increases, particularly within the fine branches and branchlets. [27]
However, while fine astrocytic perisynaptic processes can only house the smallest mitochondria, perivascular endfeet present a notable exception, and they can accommodate significantly more complex and ramified mitochondria. [27] In cases of traumatic brain injury and subsequent blood-brain barrier disruption, there is even further augmentation in mitochondrial number and density within astrocytic endfeet in order to facilitate vascular remodeling as an adaptive response. [28]
On the contrary, foot processes of podocytes are devoid of mitochondria, and mitochondria are confined to the cytosol surrounding the nucleus. The absence of mitochondria in foot processes can be attributed to the apparent size disparity, since mitochondria are generally larger than foot processes (The diameter of foot processes of normal podocytes can be under 250 nm). [25] [29]
As a result, foot processes rely on glycolysis for their energy supply, which may be beneficial as glycolysis offers the advantage of being unrestricted by a maximum capacity. Mitochondria, on the other hand, have a maximal limit, that renders them incapable of generating additional energy upon increased demand. [25]
Podocytes require a significant amount of energy to preserve the structural integrity of their foot processes, given the substantial mechanical stress they endure during the glomerular filtration process. [30]
Dynamic changes in glomerular capillary pressure exert both tensile and stretching forces on podocyte foot processes, and can lead to mechanical strain on their cytoskeleton. Concurrently, fluid flow shear stress is generated by the movement of glomerular ultrafiltrate, exerting a tangential force on the surface of these foot processes. [31]
In order to preserve their intricate foot process architecture, podocytes require a substantial ATP expenditure to maintain their structure and cytoskeletal organization, counteract the elevated glomerular capillary pressure and stabilize the capillary wall. [31]
It has also been suggested that podocytes may possess a reasonable degree of mobility along the glomerular basement membrane, a process that may also contribute to the high energy demand. Since filtered proteins may become entrapped and accumulate under podocyte cell body and major processes, a hypothesized strategy to facilitate the removal of these stagnant proteins involves a cyclical movement of podocytes, allowing trapped proteins to be dispersed from the subpodocyte space into the filtrate. [32]
End-processes are integral to the structure of diverse membranes and sheaths, and perivascular cells play a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of organ-blood barriers: [3] [33]
The interface | Associated end-processes |
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The blood-brain barrier and the blood-spinal cord barrier | Pericytes and astrocytes endfeet (Astrocytic endfeet envelop the abluminal surface of brain capillaries, accounting for 70% to nearly 100% of their total surface area). [34] |
The inner blood retinal barrier (iBRB) [35] | Pericytes and endfeet of glial cells like astrocytes and Müller cells. |
The glomerular filtration barrier | Foot processes of podocytes. |
The glia limitans | Astrocytic endfeet. |
The myelin sheath | Oligodendrocytes. |
Cellular extensions of certain mural cells possess the capability to regulate the diameter of their associated blood vessels. Through the processes of vasoconstriction and vasodilation, these cells can actively control the rate of blood flow by means of:
Podocytes, through their intricate network of foot processes, strictly control the passage of plasma proteins into the urinary ultrafiltrate. Podocytes establish a selective barrier between their foot processes, allowing only molecules of appropriate size and charge to traverse. The negatively charged glycocalyx coating the foot processes facing the urinary space further enhances this barrier, creating an electrostatic repulsion that impedes the filtration of albumin. [37]
Astrocytic endfeet are rich in:
The vascularization of bone is a metabolically demanding process, requiring substantial energy to support the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. As a result, capillaries which arise from the bone marrow, and then pass through the cortical (outer) layer of bone, known as transcortical vessels (TCVs), require a robust supply of mitochondria to facilitate vascular development. [41]
Osteocytes, the most common cell type within mature cortical bone, actively participate in the growth and maintenance of TCVs through the transfer of mitochondria to endothelial cells. Scanning electron microscopy images have revealed that osteocytes possess numerous dendritic processes with expanded, endfoot-like structures. These endfeet directly abut and communicate with TCVs, establishing a close physical association that enables the transfer of mitochondria, and thereby provide the endothelial cells with the energy necessary for vascularization. [41]
While chemical signalling pathways have long been recognized as key mediators of intercellular communication, recent studies have highlighted the significance of direct physical interactions in facilitating coordinated cellular responses. For example, pericyte secondary processes establish contact with endothelial cells, resulting in the formation of peg-socket invaginations, where pericyte processes extend inward, forming indentations within the endothelial cell membrane. [15]
During the process of angiogenesis, newly formed microvessels typically consist of rapidly dividing endothelial cells and an immature basement membrane. Subsequent maturation of these microvessels involves the recruitment of pericytes. The presence of pericytes surrounding blood vessels is often associated with the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation and the stabilization of newly formed microvessels. [42]
In diabetic retinopathy (DR), accumulation of toxic substances such as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) leads to pericyte loss, weakening of capillary walls, and microaneurysms, all are hallmarks of DR. Abnormal changes in pericyte mechanical stiffness can impair their ability to maintain the arrest of capillary endothelial cell growth, which may be involved in angiogenesis, neovascularization, and proliferative DR. [43]
Traditionally, CD8+ T-cells, responsible for combating intracellular pathogens, are required to undergo a multi-step migration process to reach infected organs. This process involves rolling along the endothelial surface, firm adhesion to the endothelium, and subsequent extravasation into the surrounding tissue. Nevertheless, in the liver, the fenestrated endothelium of hepatic sinusoids allows for direct contact between CD8+ T-cells and the hepatocytes. [44]
In case of viral or bacterial infection of hepatocytes, platelets have been observed to form clusters within the sinusoids of the liver and adhere to the surface of infected Kupffer cells. This aggregation is believed to serve as a mechanism for trapping pathogens and promoting their elimination by the immune system. [44]
CD8+ T-cells, encountering platelet aggregates within liver sinusoids, are arrested and actively migrate along these sinusoids. They stretch out foot-like processes through the sinusoidal pores into the space of Disse, and then scan hepatocytes for detection of infected cells. [note 2] Upon recognition of antigens, these T cells initiate a cytotoxic response characterized by producing cytokines and killing infected cells without the need for extravasation into the liver parenchyma. [44]
Microglia, while primarily known for their immunological functions, exhibit remarkable plasticity, enabling them to perform a diverse range of roles within the central nervous system. Traditionally, microglia have been characterized as existing in two distinct morphological states that correlate with changes in their functional properties: [45]
The ramified state | The amoeboid state | |
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Morphology | Microglia are extensively branched with numerous primary and secondary processes. | Microglia are rounded with compact cell body and retracted processes. |
Physiological functions | They scan the central nervous system, and establish contacts with neurons, astrocytes and blood vessels. | Exhibiting a high degree of motility, they migrate to the lesion site and demonstrate a potent phagocytic capacity for the clearance of debris and the elimination of pathogens. |
Foot process effacement (FPE) is a pathological condition, where podocyte foot processes withdraw from their usual interdigitating position, retract into the primary processes of podocytes, and eventually fuse with the cell bodies, resulting in the formation of broad sheet-like extensions over the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). [46]
The podocyte cell bodies no longer maintain their typical position "floating" within the filtrate above the GBM. Instead, they become broadly adherent to it, resulting in the near-complete obliteration of the subpodocyte space, the region beneath the podocyte cell body and major processes. [46]
FPE is a typical finding in proteinuric glomerular diseases, including minimal change disease (MCD), membranous nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease, and IgA nephropathy. [47] FPE is hypothesized to be an adaptive mechanism in response to glomerular stress, rather than a mere consequence of cell injury and disease. [46]
For example, in inflammatory diseases such as anti-GBM glomerulonephritis, inflammatory mediators and the activation of the complement cascade can damage the attachment of the actin cytoskeleton in foot processes to the GBM, thereby increasing the risk of podocyte detachment from the GBM. [46]
As a result, podocytes undergo cytoskeletal reorganization, resulting in the formation of a robust, basal cytoskeletal network that is tightly adhered to the GBM in order to minimize the risk of podocyte detachment. Even in cases of extensive FPE, recovery from effacement is possible if the disease resolves or with therapeutic intervention, and podocytes can restore their foot processes to their normal interdigitating state. [46]
Staphylococcus epidermidis , a common bacterium found as a normal commensal on human skin, is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections that are associated with the use of implanted medical devices like heart valves and catheters. [48]
This bacterium can reach the bloodstream as a contaminant from the skin, adhering to an implant using various mechanisms. In addition to producing a slimy substance, S. epidermidis can anchor itself to the surface of the implant using foot-like processes. [49] These projections (appendages) extend from the bacterial cell wall and attach to the implant in linear arrangements, either singly or in multiples. [note 3]
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of serum antibodies directed against the water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP-4). These antibodies initiate a complement-dependent inflammatory cascade, culminating in tissue damage and destruction. [50] [51]
Given that AQP4 is primarily expressed on perivascular astrocytic endfeet in the spinal cord and by Müller cells in the retina, NMOSD preferentially affects the spinal cord, and the anterior visual system. [50]
Patients with NMOSD typically exhibit worse visual acuity compared to those with multiple sclerosis (MS), because NMOSD is primarily an inflammatory process targeting astrocytes, with demyelination as a secondary consequence. In contrast, MS primarily involves inflammatory demyelination. [51]
Since NMOSD targets Müller cells, which provide trophic support to the retina, and have a heightened expression of AQP4 in their endfeet facing blood vessels, it is evident that NMOSD can have a more severe impact on visual acuity. [51]
AQP-4 exhibits a polarized distribution in astrocytes, with a 10-times higher concentration in astrocytic endfeet, which are in contact with blood vessels, compared to non-endfoot regions. [40]
In contrast to the lateral membranes of numerous epithelial cell types, astrocyte lateral membranes are devoid of tight junctions, that prevent diffusion of membrane molecules. In order to maintain their polarization and orientation towards blood vessels, AQP-4 channels must be securely anchored by specialized proteins. [40]
Recent studies have revealed a correlation between multiple neurological disorders, and the loss of AQP4 polarity (i.e. when AQP4 are widely distributed throughout the astrocyte, instead of its typical localization at the endfeet). [52]
AQP-4 facilitates the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the brain parenchyma from para-arterial to para-venous spaces, and thus AQP4 channels facilitate the clearance of waste products from the brain, thereby preventing their accumulation. [note 4] In Alzheimer's disease (AD), a disruption in the polarity of AQP4 can cause a buildup of waste products, such as amyloid beta and tau proteins, a defining characteristic of AD. [52]
This also explains why patients with NMSOD are at higher risk of developing AD, since damage of AQP4 in NMSOD may impair clearance of amyloid-beta. [53]
An epiretinal membrane (ERM) is an eye disease, where a greyish semi-translucent membrane progressively grows over the macula, leading to decreased visual acuity, metamorphopsia, and other complaints. ERM commonly occurs due to posterior vitreous detachment, which can cause a tear in the internal limiting membrane (ILM), allowing microglial cells to migrate through the disrupted retinal architecture and interact with other cells at the vitreo-retinal interface, ultimately contributing to the formation of ERM. [54]
The standard surgical treatment for symptomatic ERMs is pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peel. However, despite the apparent complete removal of the ERM, there remains a risk of recurrence, which can be attributed to the presence of residual microscopic ERM remnants and the potential role of Müller cell footplates in the internal limiting membrane (ILM) in facilitating further cell proliferation and membrane formation. Minimising recurrence can therefore be achieved through peeling the underlying ILM together with the ERM. [55]
However, ILM peeling may result in the unintended damage of Müller cells, thereby increasing the risk of complications such as development of dissociated optic nerve fiber layer (DONFL), probably due to trauma to Müller cell footplate, and concomitant alterations in the nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer. As a result, intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT)-guided ERM removal is an alternative approach that may minimize the risk of recurrence without the need for routine ILM peeling. [55]
A capillary is a small blood vessel, from 5 to 10 micrometres in diameter, and is part of the microcirculation system. Capillaries are microvessels and the smallest blood vessels in the body. They are composed of only the tunica intima, consisting of a thin wall of simple squamous endothelial cells. They are the site of the exchange of many substances from the surrounding interstitial fluid, and they convey blood from the smallest branches of the arteries (arterioles) to those of the veins (venules). Other substances which cross capillaries include water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, urea, glucose, uric acid, lactic acid and creatinine. Lymph capillaries connect with larger lymph vessels to drain lymphatic fluid collected in microcirculation.
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective semipermeable border of endothelial cells that regulates the transfer of solutes and chemicals between the circulatory system and the central nervous system, thus protecting the brain from harmful or unwanted substances in the blood. The blood–brain barrier is formed by endothelial cells of the capillary wall, astrocyte end-feet ensheathing the capillary, and pericytes embedded in the capillary basement membrane. This system allows the passage of some small molecules by passive diffusion, as well as the selective and active transport of various nutrients, ions, organic anions, and macromolecules such as glucose and amino acids that are crucial to neural function.
The nephron is the minute or microscopic structural and functional unit of the kidney. It is composed of a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule. The renal corpuscle consists of a tuft of capillaries called a glomerulus and a cup-shaped structure called Bowman's capsule. The renal tubule extends from the capsule. The capsule and tubule are connected and are composed of epithelial cells with a lumen. A healthy adult has 1 to 1.5 million nephrons in each kidney. Blood is filtered as it passes through three layers: the endothelial cells of the capillary wall, its basement membrane, and between the podocyte foot processes of the lining of the capsule. The tubule has adjacent peritubular capillaries that run between the descending and ascending portions of the tubule. As the fluid from the capsule flows down into the tubule, it is processed by the epithelial cells lining the tubule: water is reabsorbed and substances are exchanged ; first with the interstitial fluid outside the tubules, and then into the plasma in the adjacent peritubular capillaries through the endothelial cells lining that capillary. This process regulates the volume of body fluid as well as levels of many body substances. At the end of the tubule, the remaining fluid—urine—exits: it is composed of water, metabolic waste, and toxins.
Bowman's capsule is a cup-like sac at the beginning of the tubular component of a nephron in the mammalian kidney that performs the first step in the filtration of blood to form urine. A glomerulus is enclosed in the sac. Fluids from blood in the glomerulus are collected in the Bowman's capsule.
The glomerulus is a network of small blood vessels (capillaries) known as a tuft, located at the beginning of a nephron in the kidney. Each of the two kidneys contains about one million nephrons. The tuft is structurally supported by the mesangium, composed of intraglomerular mesangial cells. The blood is filtered across the capillary walls of this tuft through the glomerular filtration barrier, which yields its filtrate of water and soluble substances to a cup-like sac known as Bowman's capsule. The filtrate then enters the renal tubule of the nephron.
Mesangial cells are specialised cells in the kidney that make up the mesangium of the glomerulus. Together with the mesangial matrix, they form the vascular pole of the renal corpuscle. The mesangial cell population accounts for approximately 30-40% of the total cells in the glomerulus. Mesangial cells can be categorized as either extraglomerular mesangial cells or intraglomerular mesangial cells, based on their relative location to the glomerulus. The extraglomerular mesangial cells are found between the afferent and efferent arterioles towards the vascular pole of the glomerulus. The extraglomerular mesangial cells are adjacent to the intraglomerular mesangial cells that are located inside the glomerulus and in between the capillaries. The primary function of mesangial cells is to remove trapped residues and aggregated protein from the basement membrane thus keeping the filter free of debris. The contractile properties of mesangial cells have been shown to be insignificant in changing the filtration pressure of the glomerulus.
Podocytes are cells in Bowman's capsule in the kidneys that wrap around capillaries of the glomerulus. Podocytes make up the epithelial lining of Bowman's capsule, the third layer through which filtration of blood takes place. Bowman's capsule filters the blood, retaining large molecules such as proteins while smaller molecules such as water, salts, and sugars are filtered as the first step in the formation of urine. Although various viscera have epithelial layers, the name visceral epithelial cells usually refers specifically to podocytes, which are specialized epithelial cells that reside in the visceral layer of the capsule.
In haemodynamics, the body must respond to physical activities, external temperature, and other factors by homeostatically adjusting its blood flow to deliver nutrients such as oxygen and glucose to stressed tissues and allow them to function. Haemodynamic response (HR) allows the rapid delivery of blood to active neuronal tissues. The brain consumes large amounts of energy but does not have a reservoir of stored energy substrates. Since higher processes in the brain occur almost constantly, cerebral blood flow is essential for the maintenance of neurons, astrocytes, and other cells of the brain. This coupling between neuronal activity and blood flow is also referred to as neurovascular coupling.
Astrogliosis is an abnormal increase in the number of astrocytes due to the destruction of nearby neurons from central nervous system (CNS) trauma, infection, ischemia, stroke, autoimmune responses or neurodegenerative disease. In healthy neural tissue, astrocytes play critical roles in energy provision, regulation of blood flow, homeostasis of extracellular fluid, homeostasis of ions and transmitters, regulation of synapse function and synaptic remodeling. Astrogliosis changes the molecular expression and morphology of astrocytes, in response to infection for example, in severe cases causing glial scar formation that may inhibit axon regeneration.
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are a spectrum of autoimmune diseases characterized by acute inflammation of the optic nerve and the spinal cord (myelitis). Episodes of ON and myelitis can be simultaneous or successive. A relapsing disease course is common, especially in untreated patients.
The basement membrane, also known as base membrane, is a thin, pliable sheet-like type of extracellular matrix that provides cell and tissue support and acts as a platform for complex signalling. The basement membrane sits between epithelial tissues including mesothelium and endothelium, and the underlying connective tissue.
Pericytes are multi-functional mural cells of the microcirculation that wrap around the endothelial cells that line the capillaries throughout the body. Pericytes are embedded in the basement membrane of blood capillaries, where they communicate with endothelial cells by means of both direct physical contact and paracrine signaling. The morphology, distribution, density and molecular fingerprints of pericytes vary between organs and vascular beds. Pericytes help in the maintainenance of homeostatic and hemostatic functions in the brain, where one of the organs is characterized with a higher pericyte coverage, and also sustain the blood–brain barrier. These cells are also a key component of the neurovascular unit, which includes endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons. Pericytes have been postulated to regulate capillary blood flow and the clearance and phagocytosis of cellular debris in vitro. Pericytes stabilize and monitor the maturation of endothelial cells by means of direct communication between the cell membrane as well as through paracrine signaling. A deficiency of pericytes in the central nervous system can cause increased permeability of the blood–brain barrier.
Aquaporin-4, also known as AQP-4, is a water channel protein encoded by the AQP4 gene in humans. AQP-4 belongs to the aquaporin family of integral membrane proteins that conduct water through the cell membrane. A limited number of aquaporins are found within the central nervous system (CNS): AQP1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 11, but more exclusive representation of AQP1, 4, and 9 are found in the brain and spinal cord. AQP4 shows the largest presence in the cerebellum and spinal cord grey matter. In the CNS, AQP4 is the most prevalent aquaporin channel, specifically located at the perimicrovessel astrocyte foot processes, glia limitans, and ependyma. In addition, this channel is commonly found facilitating water movement near cerebrospinal fluid and vasculature.
The glia limitans, or the glial limiting membrane, is a thin barrier of astrocyte foot processes associated with the parenchymal basal lamina surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is the outermost layer of neural tissue, and among its responsibilities is the prevention of the over-migration of neurons and neuroglia, the supporting cells of the nervous system, into the meninges. The glia limitans also plays an important role in regulating the movement of small molecules and cells into the brain tissue by working in concert with other components of the central nervous system (CNS) such as the blood–brain barrier (BBB).
The glomerular basement membrane of the kidney is the basal lamina layer of the glomerulus. The glomerular endothelial cells, the glomerular basement membrane, and the filtration slits between the podocytes perform the filtration function of the glomerulus, separating the blood in the capillaries from the filtrate that forms in Bowman's capsule. The glomerular basement membrane is a fusion of the endothelial cell and podocyte basal laminas, and is the main site of restriction of water flow. Glomerular basement membrane is secreted and maintained by podocyte cells.
Podocin is a protein component of the filtration slits of podocytes. Glomerular capillary endothelial cells, the glomerular basement membrane and the filtration slits function as the filtration barrier of the kidney glomerulus. Mutations in the podocin gene NPHS2 can cause nephrotic syndrome, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or minimal change disease (MCD). Symptoms may develop in the first few months of life or later in childhood.
Transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily C, member 6 or Transient receptor potential canonical 6, also known as TRPC6, is a protein encoded in the human by the TRPC6 gene. TRPC6 is a transient receptor potential channel of the classical TRPC subfamily.
A tunneling nanotube(TNT) or membrane nanotube is a term that has been applied to cytoskeletal protrusions that extend from the plasma membrane which enable different animal cells to connect over long distances, sometimes over 100 μm between certain types of cells. Tunneling nanotubes that are less than 0.7 micrometers in diameter, have an actin structure and carry portions of plasma membrane between cells in both directions. Larger TNTs (>0.7 μm) contain an actin structure with microtubules and/or intermediate filaments, and can carry components such as vesicles and organelles between cells, including whole mitochondria. The diameter of TNTs ranges from 0.05 μm to 1.5 μm and they can reach lengths of several cell diameters. There have been two types of observed TNTs: open ended and closed ended. Open ended TNTs connect the cytoplasm of two cells. Closed ended TNTs do not have continuous cytoplasm as there is a gap junction cap that only allows small molecules and ions to flow between cells. These structures have shown involvement in cell-to-cell communication, transfer of nucleic acids such as mRNA and miRNA between cells in culture or in a tissue, and the spread of pathogens or toxins such as HIV and prions. TNTs have observed lifetimes ranging from a few minutes up to several hours, and several proteins have been implicated in their formation and inhibition, including many that interact with Arp2/3.
Paracytophagy is the cellular process whereby a cell engulfs a protrusion which extends from a neighboring cell. This protrusion may contain material which is actively transferred between the cells. The process of paracytophagy was first described as a crucial step during cell-to-cell spread of the intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, and is also commonly observed in Shigella flexneri. Paracytophagy allows these intracellular pathogens to spread directly from cell to cell, thus escaping immune detection and destruction. Studies of this process have contributed significantly to our understanding of the role of the actin cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells.
The pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease is death of dopaminergic neurons as a result of changes in biological activity in the brain with respect to Parkinson's disease (PD). There are several proposed mechanisms for neuronal death in PD; however, not all of them are well understood. Five proposed major mechanisms for neuronal death in Parkinson's Disease include protein aggregation in Lewy bodies, disruption of autophagy, changes in cell metabolism or mitochondrial function, neuroinflammation, and blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown resulting in vascular leakiness.
Based on their star ("stellate-like") shape with foot-like processes, PaSCs were found to surround cell clusters, ductal cells and newly formed islets, making complex cell-cell dendritic-like contacts.
In this context, dendritic cells within the renal interstitium are ideally positioned for immune surveillance, as their foot processes extend into the tubules, allowing them to take up antigens.
The myelin sheath that protects axons is composed of foot processes of oligodendrocytes, supported by astrocytes that maintain homeostasis and form the blood-brain barrier.