Immune cells via paracrine factors

Immune cells via paracrine factors refers to the complex intercellular communication network where immune cells influence neighboring cells through the secretion of soluble signaling molecules such as cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors (Janeway's Immunobiology, 9th Ed.). This process is fundamental to the coordination of the immune response, allowing for localized activation, recruitment, and regulation of various cell types without requiring direct cell-to-cell contact. In pathological states like chronic inflammation or the tumor microenvironment, paracrine signaling can become dysregulated, promoting disease progression, tissue damage, or immune evasion (Nature Reviews Cancer, 2021). While the phrase itself does not represent a single molecular target, it encompasses a wide array of therapeutic targets, including specific interleukins and their receptors. Drugs often target specific components of this system, such as TNF-alpha or IL-6, to treat conditions ranging from rheumatoid arthritis to life-threatening cytokine storms (NEJM, 2018).

Other names

Paracrine immune signalingImmune cell paracrine regulationCytokine-mediated paracrine signalingIntercellular immune communication

Modulation of immune cell activity through the secretion and reception of local signaling molecules such as cytokines and chemokines. Therapeutic intervention typically involves using monoclonal antibodies or small molecules to inhibit specific paracrine factors or their receptors to disrupt pathological immune communication.