Cell Messengers - Hormones, Neurotransmitters, Eicosonoids (E.g. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes)

Cell Messengers - "Signaling Molecules"

What are signaling molecules?

Signaling molecules enable cells to be aware of and correctly respond to their local environment. This provides cells the basis for their development / growth, tissue repair, immunity, and tissue homeostasis

A signaling molecule is a chemical involved in transmitting information between cells

- Released from the cell sending the signal

- Transverses the gap between cells by diffusion.

- Interacts with specific receptors on the cell surface of another cell, which triggers a response. It does this by activating a series of enzyme-controlled reactions which lead to changes inside the cell.

Types of signaling molecules. Include hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines, growth factors, eicosonoids (local hormones)

Hormones

Hormones regulate the body's biochemical reactions for everything the body does and makes. A balanced hormone presence will decrease the symptoms of aging (aging skin, memory loss, fatigue, aches /pains / stiffness, shortened life-span) and restore vitality, sexuality, a slim figure, a good attitude, healthier bones, a healthier heart, and a sharper brain.

Present in all multi-cellular organisms, a hormone is a "communication device". A hormone takes the form of a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one or more cells to other cells in the organism, to affect a change in the receiving cells. Only a small amount of hormone is required. Different hormones work together to regulate many body functions, including:

• Mood

• Tissue function

• Growth and Development

• Metabolism

List of Human Hormones
MELATONIN	OXYTOCIN
SERATONIN	PARATHYROIID HORMONE
THYROXINE (T4)	PROLACTIN
TRIIODO-THYRONINE (T3)	RELAXIN
EPINEPHRINE	SECRETIN
NOR-EPINEPHRINE	SOMATOSTATIN
DOPAMINE	THROMBOPOIETIN
HISTAMINE	THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE (aka THYROTROPIN)
	THYROTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE
ANTIMULLERIAN HORMONE	PROLACTIN-RELEASING HORMONE
ADIPONECTIN	LIPOTROPIN
ADRENOCORTICO-TROPIN HORMONE	BRAIN NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE
ANGIOTENSINOGEN / ANGIOTENSIN	NEUROPEPTIDE Y
ANTIDIURETICHORMONE(aka VASOPRESSIN)	PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE
ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE	RENIN
CALCITONIN	CORTISOL
CHOLECYSTOKININ	ALDOSTERONE
CORTICOTROPIN -RELEASING HORMONE	Testosterone
ERYTHROPOIETIN	Dehydro-epiandrosterone
FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE	ANDROSTENEDIONE
GASTRIN	DIHYDRO-Testosterone
GHRELIN	ESTRADIOL
GLUCAGON	ESTRONE
GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE	ESTRIOL
GROWTH HORMONE-RELEASING HORMONE	PROGESTERONE
HUMAC CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN	CALCITRIOL (1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D₃)
HUMAN PLACENTAL LACTOGEN	CALCIDIOL (25-hydroxyvitamin D₃)
GROWTH HORMONE	PROLACTIN-RELEASING HORMONE
INHIBIN	LIPOTROPIN
INSULIN	BRAINNATRIURETICPEPTIDE
INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR	NEUROPEPTIDE Y
LEPTIN	PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE
LUTEINIZING HORMONE	RENIN
MELANOCYTE STIMULATING HORMONE	ENKEPHALIN
OREXIN	EENDOTHELIN

For more information on hormone production, their effects and how they travel:

Hormones 101 -"Feel Good, Look Good"

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the body that transmit signals from a nerve cell (neuron) to a target cell across a synapse

• An adjacent nerve cell

• A muscle fiber -to stimulate movement

• A body organ cell

• Other tissue cell

List of Common Neurotransmitters
ASPARTATE	GLUTAMATE	GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID (GABA)
ACETYLCHOLINE	DOPAMINE	NOREPINEPHRINE
EPINEPHRINE	OCTOPAMINE	TYRAMINE
SEROTONIN	MELATONIN	HISTAMINE
GASTRIN	VASOPRESSIN,	CHOLECYSTOKININ,
OXYTOCIN	NEUROPEPTIDE γ	NEUROPHYSIN I AND II
PEPTIDE γγ	CORTICOTROPIN	PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE
DYNORPHIN	ENDORPHIN	ENKEPHALINE
SECRETIN	MOTILIN	GLUCAGON
SOMATOSTATIN	SUBSTANCE P	VASOACTIVE INTESTINAL PEPTIDE
BOMBESIN	NITRIC OXIDE	GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING FACTOR
CARBON MONOXIDE	ANANDAMIDE	NEUROKININ A AND B
		ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP)

For information on neurotransmitters and their functions:

Neurotransmitters

Cytokines

Growth Factors

Eicosonoids -"Local Hormones"

Eicosonoids are lipid signaling molecules that act like hormones, but only in the vicinity of the cell which produces them. 20-carbon-length Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) (i.e. DGLA, AA, EPA) reside in the phospholipid bi-layer of the cell membrane and convert with or without enzymes to eicosanoids (eico is Greek for 20) by sequential oxidation of AA, DGLA or EPA.

There are four types of eicosonoids:

(1) Prostaglandins (PG)

- Produced by all nucleated cells except lymphocytes - by COX enzymes andterminal prostaglandin synthases (E.g. Prostaglandin-E

• COX-1 - responsible for the baseline levels of prostaglandins.

• COX-2 - produces prostaglandins through stimulation (PGs increased by COX-2 in inflammation).

• COX-3 -thought to exist in brain, may be involved in headache mediationby NSAIDs (E.g. aspirin, ibuprofen)

- Prostaglandins have a variety of effects depending on the type of responding receptor

• Cause constriction or dilation in blood vessel muscles (vascular smooth muscle cells)

• Cause blood clotting or unclotting (platelet aggregation or disaggregation)

• Sensitize spinal neurons to pain

• Induce labor

• Decrease pressure in eye

• Mediate inflammatory reactions

• Regulate calcium movement

• Regulate hormones

• Control cell growth

• Acts on hypothalamic thermoregulatory center to produce fever

• Increases flow rate of filtered fluid through the kidney.

(2) Prostacyclins (PG)

(3) Thromboxanes (TX)

(4) Leukotrienes (LT)

Local "Hormones"(Eicosonoids) -"First Response Team"

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