Figure 4

Transfer of Mitochondria between eGFP-E4⁺ECs and cancer cells. A , confocal images of mitochondria transfer through TnTs. eGFP-E4⁺ECs were stained with MitoTracker Deep-Red to follow their mitochondria. Subsequently, they were co-cultured with cancer cells. Prior to confocal imaging, co-cultures were stained with WGA AF594 to reveal cell membranes. We identified transfer of mitochondria through TnTs from eGFP-E4⁺ECs to cancer cells (MCF7 right panel, MDA left top panel, OVCAR3 and SKOV3 left bottom panels). MitoTracker staining could also be observed in cancer cells cytoplasm. Scale bar: 10 μm. B, detailed frames extracted from movie 8, WGA staining shows the presence of a TnT (left panel), Mitotracker stained material transfer can be observed within the TnT (right panel) C, phase contrast imaging of ovarian cancer explant on eGFP-E4⁺ECs layer. eGFP-E4⁺ECs were stained with MitoTracker Deep-Red. Tumor explants were cultured on a feeder of eGFP-E4⁺ECs stained with Mitotracker (Let panel, scale bar: 500 μm). Confocal imaging were performed after 48 hours of culture. Mitochondria from eGFP-E4⁺ECs were observed within the tumor explant (Middle and right panel, scale bar: 100 μm).