Figure 8.

Functional analysis. (A–I) Comparison between MCF7 cells after 24 h and 3 days with (A–E) and without (F,I) NAC treatment. The antioxidant action of this molecule, acting on amyloidogenesis, reduces the MCF7 ability to form spheroids, whose size was smaller and variable in size compared with controls already at 24 h post treatment. (G–I). Cells of early aggregates (B) are small in size and show protruding thin expansion (arrowhead). Scale bars: (B) 45 μm; (C) 50 μm; (D,E) 30 μm; (G) 38 μm; (H) 45 μm; (I) 24 μm. (F–M) Comparison between MCF7 cells after 24 h and 3 days without (F–I) or with NEP treatment (J–M). From 24 h up to 3 days, the enzymatic degradation by NEP treatment, triggering a removal of amyloid fibrils involved in the adhesion of cells, leads to very small spheroids characterized by an irregular profile. Scale bars: (K–M) 32 μm. (N–Q) Fluorescent dextran is microinjected in the cytoplasm of a single cell. Starting from about 5 min, the tracking molecule flows into the adjacent cells, evidencing the intercellular connections and demonstrating the functional activity of these cytoplasmic canals.