Question

Discuss how defects in cell to cell communication may lead to human diseases. Please answer in specific details and typed out! Thank you very much!

Answer 1

Defect in singnaling pathways:-The cells in our bodies are constantly sending out and receiving signals. Following are just a few ways in which cell communication can go wrong, resulting in disease.
1.if a cell fails to send out a signal at the proper time.:- Normally, cells in the pancreas release a signal, called insulin, promote liver, muscle and fat cells to store sugar for later use. In type I diabetes, the pancreatic cells that produce insulin are lost. Consequently, the insulin signal is also lost. As a result, sugar accumulates to toxic levels in the blood.

2.if a signal doesn't reach its target:- Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which myelin sheath around nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are destroyed. The affected nerve cells can no longer transmit signals from one area of the brain to another. This nerve damage may leads to muscle weakness, blurred vision, difficulty with balance, uncontrolled movements, and depression.

3.if a target cell does not respond to a signal:- People with type II diabetes do produce insulin. However, the cells of type II diabetics have lost the ability to respond to insulin. The end result is the same: blood sugar levels become dangerously high.
4.a cell responds even though it has not received a signal:- Low concentrations of glutamate control many actions in the brain, but at high concentrations it is toxic to cells. Through a process called excitotoxicity, glutamate spreads through the brain and kills cells that were not affected by the blockage, often leading to widespread brain damage.