Mitochondria are specialised compartments of the cell that function as powerhouses by playing a crucial role in metabolism. The transfer of mitochondria between cells is a biological phenomenon implicated in diverse biological settings, including cancer.  In this study led by Dr Spencer Yang Chong and Prof. Toshio Suda, the authors investigated the physiological role of mitochondria transfer between immature red blood cells (erythroblasts) and their erythroblastic island macrophage niche in the context of different modes of anaemic stresses and found that mitochondria transfer plays a significant role in the enhancement of erythroid recovery from stress. This may suggest the active mitochondria transfer between cancer cells and niche cells, which should be investigated.

Read more: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36112140/