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@ellismarte
Last active February 23, 2023 14:45
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{
"hormones": [
{
"name": "insulin",
"function": "regulates glucose metabolism"
},
{
"name": "thyroid hormone",
"function": "regulates metabolism and growth"
},
{
"name": "cortisol",
"function": "regulates stress response"
}
],
"neurotransmitters": [
{
"name": "dopamine",
"function": "regulates reward and motivation, movement, and mood"
},
{
"name": "serotonin",
"function": "regulates mood, appetite, and sleep"
},
{
"name": "acetylcholine",
"function": "regulates muscle contraction, attention, and memory"
}
],
"other messengers": [
{
"name": "cytokines",
"function": "regulate immune response and inflammation"
},
{
"name": "growth factors",
"function": "promote cell growth, differentiation, and survival"
},
{
"name": "eicosanoids",
"function": "regulate inflammation, blood clotting, and blood pressure"
},
{
"name": "nitric oxide",
"function": "regulates blood flow, neurotransmission, and immune function"
},
{
"name": "prostaglandins",
"function": "regulate inflammation, pain, and fever"
},
{
"name": "endocannabinoids",
"function": "regulate pain perception, mood, appetite, and immune function"
},
{
"name": "neuropeptides",
"function": "act as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators in the brain and nervous system"
},
{
"name": "retinoids",
"function": "regulate vision, cell differentiation, and immune function"
},
{
"name": "melatonin",
"function": "regulates sleep and circadian rhythms"
},
{
"name": "histamine",
"function": "regulates immune function, inflammation, and gastric acid secretion"
},
{
"name": "adenosine",
"function": "regulates sleep, pain perception, and the cardiovascular system"
},
{
"name": "glutamate",
"function": "regulates learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity"
},
{
"name": "gases",
"function": "regulate blood pressure, neurotransmission, and immune function"
},
{
"name": "peptidoglycans",
"function": "trigger immune responses"
},
{
"name": "lipids",
"function": "regulate inflammation, cell growth and differentiation, and immune function"
},
{
"name": "adipokines",
"function": "regulate metabolism, inflammation, and immune function"
}
]
}
[
{
"type": "Hormonal Signaling",
"example": "Thyroid hormone deficiency",
"description": "Hormones are produced by various glands in the body and travel through the bloodstream to affect other organs and tissues. Hormonal signaling plays a critical role in regulating numerous bodily functions, including growth and development, metabolism, and reproductive processes.",
"potentialIssues": "Hormonal imbalances or deficiencies can lead to a variety of health problems, including growth and developmental disorders, metabolic disorders, and reproductive disorders."
},
{
"type": "Neuronal Signaling",
"example": "Alzheimer's disease",
"description": "Neurons transmit signals throughout the body, allowing for the communication and coordination of bodily functions. Neuronal signaling is essential for movement, sensation, perception, and thought.",
"potentialIssues": "Disorders of neuronal signaling can result in a range of neurological and cognitive problems, including Alzheimer"s disease, Parkinson"s disease, and epilepsy."
},
{
"type": "Immune Signaling",
"example": "Autoimmune diseases",
"description": "Immune signaling coordinates the immune response, allowing the body to recognize and fight off foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria. Dysregulation of immune signaling can lead to various immune system disorders, including autoimmune diseases.",
"potentialIssues": "Dysregulation of immune signaling can lead to various immune system disorders, including autoimmune diseases, allergies, and immunodeficiency disorders."
},
{
"type": "Cellular Signaling",
"example": "Cancer",
"description": "Cellular signaling plays a critical role in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and survival. Aberrant cellular signaling can lead to the development of various diseases, including cancer.",
"potentialIssues": "Aberrant cellular signaling can lead to the development of various diseases, including cancer and other conditions that result from improper cell growth and survival."
},
{
"type": "Inflammatory Signaling",
"example": "Inflammatory bowel disease",
"description": "Inflammatory signaling is a response to injury or infection and is necessary for tissue repair and healing. However, chronic or excessive inflammatory signaling can lead to various diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease.",
"potentialIssues": "Dysregulation of inflammatory signaling can lead to various diseases, including chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and cancer."
},
{
"type": "Metabolic Signaling",
"example": "Type 2 diabetes",
"description": "Metabolic signaling regulates the balance of energy in the body and is essential for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Dysregulation of metabolic signaling can lead to metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes.",
"potentialIssues": "Dysregulation of metabolic signaling can lead to various metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome."
},
{
"type": "Gene Expression Signaling",
"example": "Cystic fibrosis",
"description": "Gene expression signaling plays a critical role in regulating gene expression and controlling cellular processes. Dysregulation of gene expression signaling can lead to various genetic disorders, including cystic fibrosis.",
"potentialIssues": "Dysregulation of gene expression signaling can lead to various genetic disorders, including cystic fibrosis, Huntington"s disease, and Down syndrome."
},
{
"type": "Endocrine",
"example": "Insulin regulates blood glucose levels",
"potentialIssues": "Diabetes, hypoglycemia"
},
{
"type": "Paracrine",
"example": "Neurotransmitters in the brain",
"potentialIssues": "Depression, anxiety, Parkinson's disease"
},
{
"type": "Autocrine",
"example": "Tumor cells that produce growth factors for their own survival",
"potentialIssues": "Cancer"
},
{
"type": "Juxtacrine",
"example": "Notch signaling in embryonic development",
"potentialIssues": "Birth defects"
},
{
"type": "Intracrine",
"example": "Steroid hormone signaling",
"potentialIssues": "Endocrine disorders"
},
{
"type": "Gap Junctions",
"example": "Cardiac muscle cells communicating with each other",
"potentialIssues": "Arrhythmia, heart disease"
},
{
"type": "Neuroendocrine",
"example": "Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in response to stress",
"potentialIssues": "Adrenal insufficiency, Cushing's disease"
},
{
"type": "Synaptic",
"example": "Acetylcholine signaling at the neuromuscular junction",
"potentialIssues": "Myasthenia gravis, paralysis"
}
]
@ellismarte
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There is a general pattern in biological signaling. In most cases, signaling involves a signaling molecule binding to a specific receptor on the target cell, which triggers a signaling pathway inside the cell. This pathway usually involves a series of protein-protein interactions and enzyme activities that lead to the production of a cellular response.

The pathway can be relatively simple or very complex, depending on the specific signaling molecule and the cellular response that is being regulated. However, the basic idea of a signaling molecule binding to a receptor and triggering a pathway inside the cell is a common theme across many different types of signaling.

@ellismarte
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Amplification: In some signaling pathways, a single molecule of the signaling molecule can trigger the activation of many downstream signaling proteins, which can amplify the cellular response.

Feedback loops: Many signaling pathways involve feedback loops that help to regulate the strength and duration of the cellular response. For example, a downstream protein in the pathway may inhibit the activity of an upstream protein, or the signaling molecule itself may activate a negative feedback loop that decreases its own production.

Crosstalk: Signaling pathways can also interact with each other through a process called crosstalk, where the products of one pathway can affect the activity of another pathway. This can help to coordinate different cellular responses and ensure that they are properly regulated.

Specificity: Signaling pathways are often highly specific, meaning that a particular signaling molecule will only bind to a specific receptor on the target cell. This helps to ensure that the cellular response is properly targeted and that other cells in the body are not affected.

@ellismarte
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Signal transduction: This is the process by which a signal is transmitted from the outside of the cell to the inside of the cell, and it is a common feature of many different types of signaling pathways. Signal transduction typically involves a series of protein-protein interactions that allow the signal to be transmitted across the cell membrane.

Kinases and phosphatases: These are enzymes that are involved in many signaling pathways, and they play a key role in regulating the activity of downstream proteins. Kinases add a phosphate group to other proteins, while phosphatases remove phosphate groups. This can activate or deactivate other proteins in the pathway, depending on the specific context.

G-protein-coupled receptors: These are a type of receptor that is involved in many different types of signaling pathways. They are called "G-protein-coupled" because they interact with a specific type of protein called a G protein, which helps to transmit the signal to the inside of the cell.

Second messengers: These are small molecules that are produced in response to a signaling molecule binding to a receptor, and they play a key role in amplifying and modulating the cellular response. Examples of second messengers include cyclic AMP and calcium ions.

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