Mitochondria are transferable between cell types, individuals, and species
Mitochondria are increasingly recognized as mobile organelles capable of being naturally transferred between cells or artificially transplanted via extracellular vesicles, tunneling nanotubes, and cell-based therapies.
The retrieved literature extensively documents intercellular mitochondrial transfer and artificial mitochondrial transplantation across various cell types, tissues, and experimental disease models. Multiple review papers confirm that mitochondria move between cells to rescue bioenergetics and modulate immune function.
Marta Zaninello, Camilla Bean. Highly Specialized Mechanisms for Mitochondrial Transport in Neurons: From Intracellular Mobility to Intercellular Transfer of Mitochondria. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13060938
Paper [0] reviews how motor proteins facilitate the intercellular transfer of mitochondria between cells.
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Hong Luo, Yue Lai, Weili Tang, Guoyou Wang, Jianlin Shen, Huan Liu. Mitochondrial transplantation: a promising strategy for treating degenerative joint diseases. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05752-0
Paper [1] discusses artificial mitochondrial transplantation and intercellular transfer as strategies for treating degenerative diseases.
Hyun Jik Lee, C. Chae, H. Han. Enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in diabetes: Amelioration of mitochondrial dysfunction-induced senescence.. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115759
Paper [2] highlights intercellular mitochondrial transfer as a key mechanism in mesenchymal stem cell therapies.
Meiling Cao, Jiahui Zou, Mingyu Shi, Danyang Zhao, Chang Liu, Yanshan Liu, Lei Li, Hongkun Jiang. A promising therapeutic: Exosome-mediated mitochondrial transplantation.. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113104
Paper [3] outlines extracellular vesicle-mediated mitochondrial transplantation across various systemic diseases.
Ka HI, Woo HG. Mitochondrial transfer in cancer: mechanisms, immune evasion, and therapeutic opportunities.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44342-025-00064-1
Paper [5] details how intact mitochondria are exchanged between tumor cells, stromal elements, and immune cells.
Jianlin Shen, Yue Lai, Qingping Peng, Xuan Lin, Shuxuan Chen, Liuqian Guo, Miao Xu, Yanjin Lu, Jiangqi Zhu, Xiaoning Lin, Cheng Zhang, Huan Liu. Mitochondrial Transplantation: A Paradigm Shift in Osteoporosis Therapy. 2025. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S537166
Paper [6] describes mitochondrial transplantation involving the transfer of functional mitochondria to metabolically compromised cells.
Hamanaka G, Back DB, Park JH, Ishikane S, Hayakawa K. Unlocking extracellular mitochondria from bench to clinical application in stroke.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1093/stcltm/szaf060
Paper [8] explains that metabolically active mitochondria can be released into the extracellular space and taken up by other cells.
Singh P, Tahavvori A, Kuschner CE, Espin BB, Kazmi J, Ramos SV, Yin T, Hayashida K, Ito-Hagiwara K, Endo Y, Yoshioka K, Hagiwara J, Sohi A, Oropallo A, Haddad G, Li T, Becker LB, Kim J. Mitochondrial Transplantation as a Therapeutic Strategy for Inherited Mitochondrial Diseases.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202523368
Paper [9] examines the delivery of healthy exogenous mitochondria to target cells as a therapeutic strategy.
Ikeda G, Li J, Wang A, Paleru AM, Yang PC. Mitochondrial Transfer: From Bench to Bedside.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.125.326984
Paper [10] recognizes mitochondria as mobile organelles that move between cells via tunneling nanotubes and extracellular vesicles.
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