Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of cell-to-cell communication is one of the fundamental questions in biology and medicine. In particular, long-range signalling where cells communicate over several cell diameters is vital during development and homeostasis. The major morphogens, their receptors and intracellular signalling cascades have largely been identified; however, there is a gap in our knowledge of how such signalling factors are propagated over a long distance. In addition to the diffusion-based propagation model, new modalities of disseminating signalling molecules have been identified. It has been shown that cells can communicate with direct contact through long, thin cellular protrusions between signal sending and receiving cells at a distance. Recent studies have revealed a type of cellular protrusion termed ‘airinemes’ in zebrafish pigment cell types. They share similarities with previously reported cellular protrusions; however, they also exhibit distinct morphology and features. Airinemes are indispensable for pigment pattern development by mediating long-distance Delta-Notch signalling between different pigment cell types. Notably, airineme-mediated signalling is dependent on skin-resident macrophages. Key findings of airineme-mediated intercellular signalling in pattern development, their interplay with macrophages and their implications for the understanding of cellular protrusion-mediated intercellular communication will be discussed.
Highlights
Cell-to-cell signalling is essential in all multicellular organisms
In addition to the diffusion-based signal propagation model, many research groups recently have shown that cells can communicate over substantial distances via direct contact through long, thin cellular protrusions
This article instead will focus on the details of airineme-mediated signalling between pigment cell types and their dependency on macrophages
Summary
Cell-to-cell signalling is essential in all multicellular organisms. In particular, paracrine signalling, which enables cells to communicate over several cell diameters, is vital in development and homeostasis. In addition to the diffusion-based signal propagation model, many research groups recently have shown that cells can communicate over substantial distances via direct contact through long, thin cellular protrusions They resemble typical filopodia but have functions to transmit major morphogenetic signals, and such cellular protrusion-mediated communication has been observed in various organisms and tissues in vivo with functional validations [4,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17]. Studies have identified a type of cellular protrusion that transmits a Delta-Notch signal between pigment cells at a distance in zebrafish [9] This article instead will focus on the details of airineme-mediated signalling between pigment cell types and their dependency on macrophages
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