Autocrine signaling occurs when a cell produces
A)and releases a chemical messenger into the extracellular fluid that acts upon the cell that produced the messenger.
B)a signal that acts upon nearby cells.
C)chemical signals are released into the blood and carried throughout the body.
D)a signal that acts with the cell that produced the signal.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Autocrine signaling specifically refers to a cell producing a chemical messenger (such as a hormone or cytokine) and releasing it into the extracellular fluid, where it then acts upon the same cell that produced it. This can be contrasted with paracrine signaling (choice B), which involves a cell producing a signal that acts upon nearby cells, and endocrine signaling (choice C), which involves chemical signals being released into the bloodstream and acting on target cells throughout the body. Choice D is not accurate because it is too broad and could be applied to many types of signaling.

Autocrine Signaling Occurs When a Cell Produces