Mechanisms and prospects of multifunctional organelles in intercellular communication

Organelles function as the primary units of cellular activity and also play a crucial role in intercellular communication. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the level of interest among researchers in the field of organelle transfer and exchange. A mounting body of evidence suggests that a variety of organelles – including, but not limited to, mitochondria, chloroplasts and lysosomes – can be transferred between cells via multiple mechanisms, thereby impacting cellular destiny. It is evident that the absence of a consolidated logical framework is due to the heterogeneity of the disease models and perspectives that underpin the extant discoveries. Consequently, there is an absence of a unifying logical framework that can summarise the mechanisms of intracellular and extracellular environment remodelling before and after multi-organelle transfer for targeted investigation and clinical application.

A team of Smart Nanomedicine Research scientists led by Bin Zheng from Tianjin Medical University in Tianjin, China recently outlined the mechanisms and prospects of multifunctional organelles in intercellular communication to advance research in the field. Since the advent of organelle transfer research, a plethora of structural units and potentially transferable organelles have been the subjects of study and deconstruction. This research endeavors to identify the categories of organelles that possess the capacity for migration. These organelle transfers occur during both normal tissue life processes and in the context of disease or cellular damage. These biological activities are influenced by functional changes resulting from intracellular organelle transfers, altering the internal stable environment and ultimately acting as a double-edged sword.

The team published their review in Nano Research on March 10, 2026.

“This review systematically examines extant research on intercellular organelle transfer, encompassing transferable organelle types, triggering factors, effects on donor/recipient cells, and mechanistic analyses/intervention strategies from physiological and pathological perspectives. The objective of this review is to gain a more profound comprehension of the mechanisms that regulate fundamental life processes by meticulously analyzing the transfer processes of diverse organelles.” stated Zheng Bin, Professor at Tianjin Medical University and corresponding author of the paper.

Lead author Kexin Yin noted: “The field of organelle transport within cells and multicellular organisms is expanding annually. Advancements in cell biology, molecular biology, and high-precision instrumentation have driven this progress. Using these tools, researchers have uncovered the structural basis of organelle transfer and transport. These structures are similar to those involved in intercellular signaling and secretion, such as vesicles, tunnels, and membrane perforations. They enable the transfer of intact organelles and their subcellular structures between cells, thereby altering neighboring cells' biological functions.”

The research team outlined that organelle transfer between cells is a universal biological phenomenon throughout evolutionary history, occurring both spontaneously and under various stress conditions. After delving into the structural basis of organelle transfer, the types of transferable organelles, and the impact of transfer on the cellular environment, the team indicated that future research will rely heavily on higher-precision, more sensitive visualization tools and drugs capable of inducing widespread organelle transfer under controlled conditions.

The team anticipates that this review, by synthesizing existing findings on both inhibiting and promoting organelle transfer, will advance the next phase of organelle research applications. These include exploring transplantation using various migratory organelles and developing targeted drugs based on current discoveries.

Co-author Zuoxi Zhang stated: “In the coming years, as organelles are increasingly recognized as ‘intercellular couriers’, deciphering their delivery pathways and optimizing transfer conditions will become paramount. Developing drugs or biological regulatory tools based on organelle transfer represents a critical foundation for achieving breakthroughs in clinical organelle transfer and transplantation.”

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (92569103, 32271400), the Key Project of Tianjin Natural Science Foundation (25JCJQJC00210), the State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology (Open Fund Project No. HSK202504).

DOI Link:

https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2026.94908422

About Nano Research

Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 8,000 articles. In 2025 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2025 IF is 9.4 (8.3, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.