• Autophagy induction with metformin enhances TNT formation and mitochondrial transfer in MSCs, while autophagy inhibition with 3-MA reduces these processes.
• Autophagy modulation alters key proteins (Rab8, p-FAK) involved in TNT assembly and vesicle transport, without affecting Miro1/2 levels.
• Autophagy stimulation improves mitochondrial membrane integrity and autophagic flux, suggesting a protective role in MSC function.
• The study reveals crosstalk between autophagy, Wnt, and apoptosis signaling pathways, providing new insights into MSC-based regenerative therapies.