CELL TO CELL SIGNALLING - HOW CELL COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER TO PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN LIFE

Cell to cell signaling

refers to the transfer of information from one cell to another. This is also

called cell signaling or intercellular communication. The ability of cells to perceive and correctly respond

to their microenvironment is the basis of development, tissue repair, and

immunity as well as normal tissue homeostasis. Errors in cellular information

processing are responsible for diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity, and

diabetes. The cells of the body communicate with each other through some

chemical substances called chemical

messengers. These chemical messengers are extracellular

signaling molecules e.g., hormones and neurotransmitters. Cells signals by releasing these molecules that bind to

receptor proteins located in the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, or nucleus.

This signal is transduced into the activation, or inactivation, of one or more

intercellular messengers by interacting with receptors. Receptors interact with

a variety of intracellular signaling proteins, including kinases,

phosphatases, and GTP-binding proteins (G proteins). These signaling

proteins interact with and regulate the activity of target proteins and thereby

modulate cellular function.