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Microscopic Methods for Analysis of Macrophage-Induced Tunneling Nanotubes

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Immune Mediators in Cancer

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2108))

Abstract

Macrophages are known to play multiple roles in the breast cancer microenvironment including the promotion of tumor cell invasion that is dependent on soluble factors or through direct contact. Macrophages can also enhance the production of Tunneling Nanotubes (TNTs) in tumor cells which can be mimicked using macrophage-conditioned medium. TNTs are long thin F-actin structures that connect two or more cells together that have been found in many different cell types including macrophages and tumor cells and have been implicated in enhancing tumor cells functions, such as invasion. Here we describe basic procedures used to stimulate tumor cell TNT formation through macrophage-conditioned medium along with methods for quantifying TNTs.

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Correspondence to Dianne Cox .

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Carter, K.P., Segall, J.E., Cox, D. (2020). Microscopic Methods for Analysis of Macrophage-Induced Tunneling Nanotubes. In: Vancurova, I., Zhu, Y. (eds) Immune Mediators in Cancer. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2108. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0247-8_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0247-8_23

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0246-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0247-8

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