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The 1960's Breakthrough: How did the Sendai virus change the world of cell fusion?
Cell fusion is an important cellular process in which multiple cells with a single nucleus join together to form a multinucleated cell called a syncytium. This phenomenon occurs during the differentiation of myoblasts, osteoclasts, and trophoblast cells, as well as during embryogenesis and morphogenesis. Cell fusion is a critical step in cell maturation, ensuring that cells continue to maintain their specific functions during growth.
Historical review
In 1839, Theodor Schwann expanded the theory that life is composed of cells in his book "Microscopic Investigations", proposing that discrete cells form the basis of life. Schwann's observation that the cell walls and cavities of some cells merged together provided the first clue that cells might fuse. However, it was not until the 1960s that cell biologists first intentionally fused cells. They combined isolated mouse cells and used the Sendai virus to induce fusion of the cell outer membranes.
These fused hybrid cells contain chromosomes from both fusion partners and are called synkaryons.
By the late 1960s, biologists had successfully fused cells from different types and species into hybrids called heterokaryons, which maintain two or more separate nuclei. The work was led by Henry Harris of the University of Oxford and Niels Ringetts of Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. They sparked renewed interest in cell fusion. These hybrid cells give biologists a deeper understanding of how different types of cytoplasm affect the function of different types of nuclei.
Types of cell fusion
Cell fusion can be divided into two categories: homotypic and heterotypic. Homotypic cell fusion occurs when cells of the same type, such as osteoclasts or muscle fibers, fuse with each other. When the nuclei of two cells merge, a synkaryotic cell results. The resulting heterokaryotic cells may be reproduced over many generations. Heterotypic cell fusion occurs between different cell types and results in synkaryotic cells, for example, the fusion of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) with cells from other organs.
Methods of cell fusion
Cell biologists and biophysicists currently use four main methods of cell fusion. These methods include electrofusion, polyvinyl alcohol arc cell fusion, Sendai virus-induced fusion and the newly developed optically controlled thermal plasma fusion.
Electrofusion represents some of the most innovative technologies in modern biology.
The process of electrofusion is to bring two cells into contact through electrophoresis, and then apply a pulse voltage to promote the fusion of cell membranes. Polyvinyl alcohol is highly efficient, but its toxicity is relatively high. Sendai virus induces fusion at different temperature stages, and the fusion effect at each stage is also different. Recently developed thermal plasma technology allows cell fusion under different buffer conditions, which offers completely new possibilities for research.
Application in human therapy
As the demand for organ and tissue transplantation increases, cell fusion is gaining attention as a potential treatment. Biologists are beginning to explore the potential role of cell fusion in repairing tissue after damage. Although there are many challenges, if these difficulties can be overcome, the therapeutic potential of cell fusion cannot be underestimated.
Role in plant cells
In plants, the frequency of cell fusion is much less than in eukaryotic cells, but plant cells also have their own unique ways of fusion. The cell walls of plant cells thin before they fuse, or form bridges between cells, and similar phenomena occur even during gamete fusion.
Role in cancer progression
Cell fusion has also become a focus in cancer research. Due to the fusion of many different types of cells, polyploid cells may be produced. Such cells may become unstable due to the different combinations of genes they carry, leading to the occurrence of disease. The fusion of bone marrow-derived cells and malignant tumor cells gives these cancer cells a stronger ability to spread.
Cell fusion in microorganisms
In fungi, amoebas, and bacteria, cell fusion each takes its own specialized form. For example, in the fungal sexual cycle, cell fusion (Plasmogamy) is the process of merging the cytoplasm of two cells.
Other uses
Cell fusion technology can be used to study the control of cell division and gene expression, explore malignant transformation, viral replication, and even produce monoclonal antibodies.
Overall, the development of Sendai virus-cell fusion not only advances the frontiers of biology, but also sheds new light on the potential of medicine and biotechnology. As an increasingly important field, will cell fusion bring revolutionary changes to human health in the future?
