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The miracle of heterotypic cell fusion: How do bone marrow-derived cells fuse with organs?
Cell fusion is an important cellular process in which several mononuclear cells merge to form a multinuclear cell called a syncytium. Cell fusion plays an important role in the differentiation of myoblasts, osteoblasts, and trophoblasts, as well as in embryonic development and morphogenesis. This process is necessary for cells to mature in order to maintain specific functions as they grow.
In 1839, Theodor Schwann, in his Microscopic Studies, expanded on the theory that all living organisms are composed of cells, observing that in some cells the cell wall and cavity fuse. This observation provided initial clues to cell fusion.
In 1960, cell biologists first intentionally performed cell fusion, using the Sendai virus to promote fusion of the outer membranes of mouse cells. The hybrid cell after fusion, called a homokaryotic cell, contains chromosomes from both fusion partners. Over time, biologists successfully fused cells from different species, sparking a wave of cell fusion research in the 1970s, even though it was considered a forced exception to normal cellular integrity.
Types of cell fusion
Cell fusion is mainly divided into homotypic cell fusion and heterotypic cell fusion. The former refers to the fusion between cells of the same type, such as the fusion of bone cells or muscle fibers. The fusion of two nuclei forms a homokaryotic cell, whereas if the two nuclei do not fuse, a dikaryotic heterokaryotic cell is formed. Heterotypic cell fusion occurs between different cell types, such as the fusion of bone marrow-derived cells with solid organs, which can also form homokaryotic cells or dinuclear heterokaryotic cells.
Methods for achieving cell fusion
There are four main methods of cell fusion: electric field cell fusion, polyvinyl alcohol cell fusion, Sendai virus-induced cell fusion, and light-controlled thermal plasma technology. Electric field cell fusion uses high-frequency alternating current to bring cells into contact, and then applies a pulse voltage to make the cell membrane permeable, promoting cell fusion. Although polyvinyl alcohol cell fusion is simple to operate, it is highly toxic and may lead to uncontrollable fusion of multiple cells. Sendai virus-induced cell fusion is divided into four stages, which are mainly based on the activity of the virus and changes in the intracellular environment.
The photo-controlled thermal plasma technology is based on near-infrared lasers and plasma nanoparticles, which allows flexible selection of cells to be fused and can be performed under arbitrary buffer conditions.
The medical potential of cell fusion
With the growing demand for organ donation and transplantation, the potential medical uses of cell fusion have gradually gained attention. Biologists are exploring the possible restorative benefits of cell fusion, particularly in situations of tissue damage or after cell transplantation. However, many challenges remain, including the need to select appropriate cells and ensure that the fusion product is functional.
Cell Fusion in Plant Cells
In plants, cell fusion occurs less frequently than in eukaryotic cells, but it still occurs under certain circumstances. The cell walls of plant cells have a unique structure that is altered in advance to facilitate the fusion process.
The role of cell fusion in cancer progressionCell fusion is also an important area of research into the progression of human cancer. When different types of differentiated cells fuse, polyploid cells may be formed, which may become unstable due to different gene combinations in the nucleus, leading to the development of cancer. The study found that the fusion of bone marrow-derived cells with malignant tumor cells may produce cancer cells with stronger migration capabilities.
Microorganisms and cell fusion
Cell fusion also occurs in microorganisms such as fungi, amoebas, and bacteria, which exhibit fusion during sexual cycles or other processes. This shows the universality and importance of cell fusion in different life forms.
Other Applications
Cell fusion studies have a wide range of applications, including the study of gene expression, the generation of monoclonal antibodies, and the generation of stem cells. Scientists use cell fusion technology to test mutations or cell variations and to understand the control mechanisms of cell division and gene expression.
Cell nuclear fusion brings both benefits and challenges. Faced with revolutionary breakthroughs in the biomedical field, can we find new hope for human treatment in the exploration of cell fusion?
