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The Wnt/Ca 2+ pathway is involved in interneuronal communication mediated by tunneling nanotubes
Author(s) -
Vargas Jessica Y,
Loria Frida,
Wu YuanJu,
Córdova Gonzalo,
aka Takashi,
Bellow Sebastien,
Syan Sylvie,
Hasegawa Masato,
van Woerden Geeske M,
Trollet Capucine,
Zurzolo Chiara
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.2018101230
Subject(s) - biology , wnt signaling pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , biophysics
Abstract Tunneling nanotubes ( TNT s) are actin‐based transient tubular connections that allow direct communication between distant cells. TNT s play an important role in several physiological (development, immunity, and tissue regeneration) and pathological (cancer, neurodegeneration, and pathogens transmission) processes. Here, we report that the Wnt/Ca 2+ pathway, an intracellular cascade that is involved in actin cytoskeleton remodeling, has a role in TNT formation and TNT ‐mediated transfer of cargoes. Specifically, we found that Ca 2+ /calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (Ca MKII ), a transducer of the Wnt/Ca 2+ pathway, regulates TNT s in a neuronal cell line and in primary neurons. We identified the β isoform of Ca MKII as a key molecule in modulating TNT formation and transfer, showing that this depends on the actin‐binding activity of the protein. Finally, we found that the transfer of vesicles and aggregated α‐synuclein between primary neurons can be regulated by the activation of the Wnt/Ca 2+ pathway. Our findings suggest that Wnt/Ca 2+ pathway could be a novel promising target for therapies designed to impair TNT ‐mediated propagation of pathogens.