What Are Target Cells?

Target cells are cells that can recognize a specific hormone or neurotransmitter and specifically bind to it to produce a certain biological effect. In addition to the adjacent connected substances, cells more often regulate the metabolism and functions of other cells by secreting various chemicals. Hormones are secreted by specially differentiated endocrine cells and diffuse through blood circulation or interstitial fluid to act on specific target cells and regulate their metabolism and function. There is a special kind of glycoprotein molecule in the target cell, called the receptor. Each hormone or transmitter binds to its specific, specific receptor. It exerts strong regulating effect at extremely low concentration. Hormones have high tissue specificity for the affected tissues and can only act on specific target cells. ^[1]

Target cell

Target cells are cells that can recognize a specific hormone or neurotransmitter and specifically bind to it to produce a certain biological effect. In addition to the adjacent connected substances, cells more often regulate the metabolism and functions of other cells by secreting various chemicals. Hormones are secreted by specially differentiated endocrine cells and diffuse through blood circulation or interstitial fluid to act on specific target cells and regulate their metabolism and function. There is a special kind of glycoprotein molecule in the target cell, called the receptor. Each hormone or transmitter binds to its specific, specific receptor. It exerts strong regulating effect at extremely low concentration. Hormones have high tissue specificity for the affected tissues and can only act on specific target cells. ^[1]

Chinese name

Target cell

Foreign name

target cell

Pinyin

b xì bo

Organs or cells that can be stimulated by hormones secreted by endocrine cells (or organs) are called target organs or target cells. Target cells have receptors that specifically bind to hormones. Nitrogen-containing hormone receptors are located on the target cell membrane, and steroid hormone receptors are located in the target cytoplasm. They act on the corresponding genes in the nucleus through different signaling systems in the target cells, thereby regulating and controlling the expression of the genes and generating corresponding Functional substances. ^[2]

U.S. scientists break down how some viruses enter target cells

Researchers at Northwestern University have cracked the structure of a fork protein that some viruses have, and it is through this structure that viruses enter cells and then induce infection. This protein is called a fusion protein, or F protein, which was first found on the outer surface of parainfluenza virus 5. Before infection of cells, F protein can fuse the capsid of the virus to the host cell membrane. Then, the genetic genes in the virus core can enter the host cell to carry out its own replication and proliferation.