Chemical mediator
Chemical Mediator
A chemical mediator is a type of molecule that is involved in the transmission of signals from one cell to another. These mediators can be produced by cells and released into the extracellular space, where they can bind to receptors on other cells and trigger a response. Chemical mediators play a crucial role in many biological processes, including inflammation, immune response, and cell growth and differentiation.
Types of Chemical Mediators[edit | edit source]
There are several types of chemical mediators, including:
- Cytokines: These are proteins that are produced by cells of the immune system. They play a key role in regulating immune responses and inflammation.
- Hormones: These are chemical messengers that are produced by glands in the body. They travel through the bloodstream to target cells, where they trigger a response.
- Neurotransmitters: These are chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.
- Eicosanoids: These are lipid mediators that are involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including inflammation and immune responses.
Role in Disease[edit | edit source]
Abnormalities in the production or function of chemical mediators can lead to a variety of diseases. For example, overproduction of certain cytokines can lead to chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases, while deficiencies in certain neurotransmitters can lead to neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and depression.
Research and Therapeutic Applications[edit | edit source]
Research into chemical mediators has led to the development of a number of therapeutic strategies for treating diseases. For example, drugs that block the action of certain cytokines are used to treat autoimmune diseases, while drugs that increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters are used to treat depression and other mental health disorders.
See Also[edit | edit source]
.svg){kind=small}
This cell biology related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
