What is Paracrine Communication?
Paracrine signaling also known as Paracrine communication is a natural method of communication between cells that causes desired changes in surrounding cells and chemically altering the behavior surrounding cells.
Why is paracrine signaling important?
The paracrine communication system, exosomes and cytokines are critical for the success of functional medicine, regenerative medicine, and stem cell therapies. The signaling allows for significant improvements in wound healing, neurogenesis and tissue repair for medical conditions such as heart disease (cardiac tissue engineering) and orthopedic injuries to knee, hips and foods that can help prevent arthritis. Through paracrine cell communication comes the secretion of unique signaling molecules and trophic factors used at the Regeneration Center for human body repair process and is one of the best ways to naturally increase your body’s stem cells.
Differences between Paracrine, Endocrine, Autocrine, and Exocrine
The primary difference between the Exocrine, Endocrine, paracrine and autocrine systems is the use of the medium in which they are released. The Endocrine system is usually a long slow response that is secreted into the blood system. The Exocrine response is usually via ducts such as the sweat glands. The Autocrine response occurs when hormones bind to cell receptors to effects the cells that produce it. An example is the use of cell-specific growth factors used in treatments that force cell division.
Examples of Paracrine Hormones
TGF-β cell family are good examples and usually involved in the regulation of cell division. This cell family includes Bone morphogenetic proteins, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, and TGF-β5. Another example of auto paracrine signaling can be found in motor neurons – nerve cells and how they transfer signals across the synapses. Nerve cells are made up of a cell body & short branch shaped extensions known as dendrites. Dendrites are responsible for receiving stimuli via the axon, which then transmits the cell signals to other surrounding nerve cells or muscle cells in the body.
To learn more biology and neuroscience terms and definitions please visit the regenerative medicine glossary section.