Fig. 3

Nanomaterials induce TNTs formation and mitochondrial transfer. A Representative image of TNTs after exposure to nanomaterials in primary astrocyte. B Representative image of mitochondrial transfer via TNTs under nanomaterials treatment in primary astrocyte. C Representative bright field images of TNTs like in U251 cells. D Representative fluorescent images of TNTs in U251 cells after exposure to nanomaterials shown the TNTs structure. E 3D reconstruction of TNTs in U251 cells used ImageJ. F Quantification analysis of TNTs in U251 cells. G Quantification analysis of mitochondrial transfer via TNTs in U251 cells. 10 μM GW4869 or 1 μM LAT-B were pretreated with cells for 30 min prior to nanomaterial exposure. H The level of ATP in U251 cells after exposure to nanomaterials. I The ratio of apoptosis in U251 cells upon nanomaterials treatment. Scale bar = 25 μm. *, ** and *** indicate P < 0.05, 0.01 and 0.001 compared with the control group. ^## indicates P < 0.01 compared with the respective nanomaterials group (regarding the no intervention nanomaterials group). Date present as mean ± SEM. n = 3