What is autocrine signaling?
Autocrine signaling is a form of cell communication in which a cell releases a signaling molecule that binds to receptors on its own surface (or, in some cases, inside the cell) and triggers a response in that same cell.
How is it different from paracrine and endocrine signaling?
In paracrine signaling the signal acts on nearby, different cells; in endocrine signaling hormones travel through the bloodstream to distant targets; in juxtacrine signaling the signal requires direct cell-to-cell contact. Many molecules can act in more than one mode. See the comparison article.
What are classic examples of autocrine signaling?
Well-known examples include interleukin-2 (IL-2) driving the proliferation of the activated T cells that produce it, and tumour cells that produce growth factors such as TGF-alpha while also expressing the matching receptor (EGFR).
Why is autocrine signaling important in cancer?
Self-sufficiency in growth signals is a hallmark of cancer. Tumour cells can create autocrine loops that keep growth and survival pathways switched on without external signals; some targeted therapies aim to block these loops.
What is intracrine signaling?
Intracrine signaling describes a molecule that acts inside the cell that made it, without being secreted, for example some steroid-derived signals. It is sometimes grouped with autocrine signaling.
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