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Am J Transl Res 2013;5(6):586-593
Review Article
Non-chemical and non-contact cell-to-cell communication: a short
review
Felix Scholkmann, Daniel Fels, Michal Cifra
Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich,
Switzerland; Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Photonics and Electronics, Academy of
Sciences of the Czech Republic, 182 00 Prague, Czechia
Received August 14, 2013; Accepted August 31, 2013; Epub September 25, 2013; Published September 30, 2013
Abstract: Cell-to-cell communication is the basis of coordinated cellular activity and thus fundamental for the
functioning of biological systems. In a recently published research article by Chaban et al. (Am. J. Transl. Res.,
5(1), 69-79), the authors report on interesting new experimental findings supporting a neuro-hormonal
independent, non-diffusible cell-to-cell signaling. Our paper aims to (i) discuss some critical notions used by the
authors to describe their findings, and (ii) briefly review related experimental work performed so far but not
discussed in the original work of Chaban et al. In our opinion, the research on principles of non-chemical and
non-contact cell-to-cell communication has the potential to offer new fundamental insights into biological
processes. With this paper, we want to encourage future research on this topic by discussing critical issues and
giving an overview of the current state of research. (AJTR1308004).
Keywords: Cell-to-cell communication, physical signaling
Address correspondence to: Felix Scholkmann, Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of
Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Tel: +41-44 2559326; E-mail:
felix.scholkmann@usz.ch
Review Article
Non-chemical and non-contact cell-to-cell communication: a short
review
Felix Scholkmann, Daniel Fels, Michal Cifra
Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich,
Switzerland; Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Photonics and Electronics, Academy of
Sciences of the Czech Republic, 182 00 Prague, Czechia
Received August 14, 2013; Accepted August 31, 2013; Epub September 25, 2013; Published September 30, 2013
Abstract: Cell-to-cell communication is the basis of coordinated cellular activity and thus fundamental for the
functioning of biological systems. In a recently published research article by Chaban et al. (Am. J. Transl. Res.,
5(1), 69-79), the authors report on interesting new experimental findings supporting a neuro-hormonal
independent, non-diffusible cell-to-cell signaling. Our paper aims to (i) discuss some critical notions used by the
authors to describe their findings, and (ii) briefly review related experimental work performed so far but not
discussed in the original work of Chaban et al. In our opinion, the research on principles of non-chemical and
non-contact cell-to-cell communication has the potential to offer new fundamental insights into biological
processes. With this paper, we want to encourage future research on this topic by discussing critical issues and
giving an overview of the current state of research. (AJTR1308004).
Keywords: Cell-to-cell communication, physical signaling
Address correspondence to: Felix Scholkmann, Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of
Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Tel: +41-44 2559326; E-mail:
felix.scholkmann@usz.ch
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