Cell Signalling Flashcards
What processes does cell signalling allow?
- Movement
- Metabolism
- Growth
- Development
- Immune response
What are gap junctions?
Bridges between adjacent cells that allows (signalling) molecules to move between them
- essential in embryonic development
- risk of deleterious factors passing between cells
What is synaptic transmission?
Communication between neuron’s through chemical messengers (occurs over synaptic cleft)
- quick way of communicating
- damaged neurone hard to replace
What type of receptor mediated signalling uses the circulatory system to target cells far away from the original manufacturing cell?
Endocrine (think endo, entering the bloodstream)
What type of receptor mediated signalling involves self-signalling, the signalling molecule targets the cell it was manufactured at?
Autocrine (Think auto, works itself)
What type of receptor mediated signalling involves the signalling molecule from the manufactured cell targeting very close by cells?
Paracrine (think P for Proximity)
What are lipid rafts?
Sections of the cell membrane that are ridged and stabilised by cholesterol and glycoproteins so that the proteins in them stay in close proximity allowing processes to occur like signalling across the membrane
What are cytokines?
Important signalling molecules for inflammation and innate immunity that can be produced by all cells
What are the 5 effects cytokines have on cells?
- Pleiotropy
- Redundancy
- Synergy
- Antagonism
- Cascade activation
What is pleiotropy?
Same cytokine binding to different cells and producing different reactions and outcomes according to the cell
What is redundancy?
At least 2 cytokines have the same or similar effects on a cell
What is synergy?
Combined effects of cytokines over just one
What is antagonism?
One cytokine inhibiting the activity of another
What is cascade activation?
1 cytokine inducing a cascade of cytokine expression involving many cells
When cytokines regulate inflammatory responses are they pro- or anti-inflammatory?
BOTH
