Fig. 7

PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway participates in the TNTs formation upon nanomaterials exposure in U251 cells. Cells were pretreated with 10 μM LY294002, 10 μM Perifosine or 25 nM Rapamycin for 30 min and then exposed to nanomaterials. A Western blot analysis of the PI3K PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in U251 cells. B–H Statistic analysis of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in U251 cells. I Representative fluorescent image of TNTs in U251 cells. J Quantification of TNTs number in U251 cells. K Quantification of mitochondrial transfer via TNTs in U251 cells. Scale bar = 25 μm. *, ** and *** indicate P < 0.05, 0.01 and 0.01 compared with control group. ^## and ^### indicate P < 0.01 and 0.001 the respective nanomaterials group (regarding the no intervention nanomaterials group). Scale bar = 25 μm. Date present as mean ± SEM. n = 3