Stability of membranous nanostructures: a possible key mechanism in cancer progression
Veronika Kralj-IglicBiomedical Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena 5, Ljubljana, SloveniaAbstract: Membranous nanostructures, such as nanovesicles and nanotubules, are an important pool of biological membranes. Recent results indicate that they constitute...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2012-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Nanomedicine |
| Online Access: | http://www.dovepress.com/stability-of-membranous-nanostructures-a-possible-key-mechanism-in-can-a10378 |
| _version_ | 1818743751718207488 |
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| author | Kralj-Iglic V |
| author_facet | Kralj-Iglic V |
| author_sort | Kralj-Iglic V |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Veronika Kralj-IglicBiomedical Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena 5, Ljubljana, SloveniaAbstract: Membranous nanostructures, such as nanovesicles and nanotubules, are an important pool of biological membranes. Recent results indicate that they constitute cell-cell communication systems and that cancer development is influenced by these systems. Nanovesicles that are pinched off from cancer cells can move within the circulation and interact with distant cells. It has been suggested and indicated by experimental evidence that nanovesicles can induce metastases from the primary tumor in this way. Therefore, it is of importance to understand better the mechanisms of membrane budding and vesiculation. Here, a theoretical description is presented concerning consistently related lateral membrane composition, orientational ordering of membrane constituents, and a stable shape of nanovesicles and nanotubules. It is shown that the character of stable nanostructures reflects the composition of the membrane and the intrinsic shape of its constituents. An extension of the fluid mosaic model of biological membranes is suggested by taking into account curvature-mediated orientational ordering of the membrane constituents on strongly anisotropically curved regions. Based on experimental data for artificial membranes, a possible antimetastatic effect of plasma constituents via mediation of attractive interaction between membranous structures is suggested. This mediated attractive interaction hypothetically suppresses nanovesiculation by causing adhesion of buds to the mother membrane and preventing them from being pinched off from the membrane.Keywords: nanovesicles, nanotubules, nanotubes, microvesicles, exosomes, metastasis |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T02:33:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5e77cfaa94a4220bcf3fb60873bbf73 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1176-9114 1178-2013 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T02:33:24Z |
| publishDate | 2012-07-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Nanomedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5e77cfaa94a4220bcf3fb60873bbf732022-12-21T21:23:50ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Nanomedicine1176-91141178-20132012-07-012012default35793596Stability of membranous nanostructures: a possible key mechanism in cancer progressionKralj-Iglic VVeronika Kralj-IglicBiomedical Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena 5, Ljubljana, SloveniaAbstract: Membranous nanostructures, such as nanovesicles and nanotubules, are an important pool of biological membranes. Recent results indicate that they constitute cell-cell communication systems and that cancer development is influenced by these systems. Nanovesicles that are pinched off from cancer cells can move within the circulation and interact with distant cells. It has been suggested and indicated by experimental evidence that nanovesicles can induce metastases from the primary tumor in this way. Therefore, it is of importance to understand better the mechanisms of membrane budding and vesiculation. Here, a theoretical description is presented concerning consistently related lateral membrane composition, orientational ordering of membrane constituents, and a stable shape of nanovesicles and nanotubules. It is shown that the character of stable nanostructures reflects the composition of the membrane and the intrinsic shape of its constituents. An extension of the fluid mosaic model of biological membranes is suggested by taking into account curvature-mediated orientational ordering of the membrane constituents on strongly anisotropically curved regions. Based on experimental data for artificial membranes, a possible antimetastatic effect of plasma constituents via mediation of attractive interaction between membranous structures is suggested. This mediated attractive interaction hypothetically suppresses nanovesiculation by causing adhesion of buds to the mother membrane and preventing them from being pinched off from the membrane.Keywords: nanovesicles, nanotubules, nanotubes, microvesicles, exosomes, metastasishttp://www.dovepress.com/stability-of-membranous-nanostructures-a-possible-key-mechanism-in-can-a10378 |
| spellingShingle | Kralj-Iglic V Stability of membranous nanostructures: a possible key mechanism in cancer progression International Journal of Nanomedicine |
| title | Stability of membranous nanostructures: a possible key mechanism in cancer progression |
| title_full | Stability of membranous nanostructures: a possible key mechanism in cancer progression |
| title_fullStr | Stability of membranous nanostructures: a possible key mechanism in cancer progression |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stability of membranous nanostructures: a possible key mechanism in cancer progression |
| title_short | Stability of membranous nanostructures: a possible key mechanism in cancer progression |
| title_sort | stability of membranous nanostructures a possible key mechanism in cancer progression |
| url | http://www.dovepress.com/stability-of-membranous-nanostructures-a-possible-key-mechanism-in-can-a10378 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kraljiglicv stabilityofmembranousnanostructuresapossiblekeymechanismincancerprogression |