PARACRINE Meaning and
Definition
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Paracrine is an adjective used to describe a mode of cell communication within multicellular organisms. It refers to the secretion of signaling molecules by one cell, which then travels to nearby target cells to initiate a response. These signaling molecules, known as paracrine factors or paracrines, typically include growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and other small proteins or molecules.
The release of paracrine factors allows for the local regulation of cellular function and coordination of activities between nearby cells. Unlike endocrine signaling, which involves the release of hormones into the bloodstream to affect distant cells, paracrine signaling is more localized and tends to influence cells within a short range of the secreting cell.
Paracrine signaling plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including embryonic development, tissue repair, immune responses, and regulation of cell growth and differentiation. By diffusing through the interstitial fluid, paracrines act on nearby cells that possess appropriate receptors to recognize and respond to the specific signals.
Examples of paracrine signaling include the secretion of growth factors by cells to stimulate nearby cells to divide and differentiate, immune cells releasing cytokines to recruit other immune cells to the site of inflammation, and injured cells releasing signaling molecules to initiate tissue repair.
Overall, paracrine signaling allows for the intricate communication between cells within specific tissues or regions, contributing to the coordination of cellular activities and maintaining the homeostasis of multicellular organisms.
Common Misspellings for PARACRINE
- oaracrine
- laracrine
- -aracrine
- 0aracrine
- pzracrine
- psracrine
- pwracrine
- pqracrine
- paeacrine
- padacrine
- pafacrine
- patacrine
- pa5acrine
- pa4acrine
- parzcrine
- parscrine
- parwcrine
- parqcrine
- paraxrine
- paravrine
Etymology of PARACRINE
The word "paracrine" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "para" meaning "beside" or "alongside", and "krinein" meaning "to separate" or "to secrete". In the context of biology and medicine, "paracrine" refers to a mode of cell signaling where cells secrete signaling molecules that act on nearby cells to regulate their functions. The term was first introduced in scientific literature in the early 20th century.
