Multiple endogenous receptors via released growth factors

Multiple endogenous receptors via released growth factors is a descriptive term used in pharmacology to characterize the indirect mechanism of action of certain complex therapeutics, such as cell therapies or gene therapies. Instead of the drug binding directly to a single target, the therapeutic agent stimulates the production and release of various endogenous signaling molecules, primarily growth factors like Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) (Gnecchi et al., 2008). These factors then act in a paracrine or autocrine fashion by binding to their specific high-affinity receptors on the surface of neighboring cells to trigger biological responses. This mechanism is central to regenerative medicine, where the goal is to orchestrate a multi-faceted healing response involving angiogenesis, anti-apoptosis, and immune modulation (Kim et al., 2011). Because it involves a cascade of signaling events across multiple pathways, it is categorized as a multi-target or indirect mechanism rather than a discrete molecular target.

Other names

Paracrine signaling mechanismIndirect growth factor receptor activationSecretome-mediated signalingMulti-target growth factor induction

Indirect activation of multiple endogenous receptors through the therapeutic induction of growth factor secretion (Gnecchi et al., 2008; Kim et al., 2011).