Figure 3.

Examples of TNTs connecting individual cells, as well as clusters of cells (single-cell clone-derived spheroids), from malignant pleural mesothelioma. As cells divided and proliferated across the available space, the non-adjacent cells simultaneously formed TNTs that acted as tethers, forming a large and vast syncytial network of these cancer cells. In the top set of images, VAMT (sarcomatoid malignant pleural mesothelioma) cells were cultured in a clonogenic dilution assay under non-adherent conditions. By 24 (left) and 29 (right) days, a single cell proliferated and formed spheroids connected by TNTs as shown. Scale bars = 100 μm. The bottom set of images demonstrates progression from a single or small number of single VAMT cells (e.g., D8 = Day 8), through 30 days of cell culture (D30) at which time a large aggregate of cells is connected by TNTs and TMs to other clusters of cells. Scale bar = 20 μm.