Figure 1
From: Chemotherapy-Induced Tunneling Nanotubes Mediate Intercellular Drug Efflux in Pancreatic Cancer
TNTs are identified in resected human pancreatic carcinomas. Tunneling nanotube-like structures, likely TNTs, were visualized connecting cells in tissue samples resected from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients. The tumors shown in this figure were stained with fluorescing MitoTracker Orange dye and imaged using confocal microscopy with z-stacking of images under 40x oil objective lens. The average z-stack distance (z-step) was 0.42 µm/slice; 110 slices were imaged, for a total z-range of 46.20 µm. 3-dimensional reconstruction was done using NIS elements AR (version 4.00.07) software analysis (Nikon Instruments, Inc, Melville, NY) and included volumetric XYZ cross-sectional planes as shown. (A) Highly dense desmoplastic stroma is seen at low magnification; inset shows a TNT (delineated by arrows) at higher magnification. Panels B,C,D Similar examination of more highly curved TNTs/TNT-like extensions connecting cells within the dense matrix of the intact tumor microenvironment.
