Interactions between Cells and Environment

Vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from the lecture notes on interactions between cells and their environment.

Inflammation

Occurs in response to infection; involves white blood cells (leukocytes) entering tissues.

Leukocytes

White blood cells that cross blood vessel barriers to digest microorganisms.

Transendothelial migration

The process by which leukocytes move from blood vessels into surrounding tissues.

Cadherins

A family of proteins important for cell-cell adhesion.

IgSF

Immunoglobulin superfamily; contains proteins that mediate cell adhesion.

Selectins

A family of glycoproteins that facilitate leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells.

Extracellular matrix (ECM)

A network of proteins and molecules that provide structural and biochemical support to surrounding cells.

Tight junctions

Specialized connections between epithelial cells that prevent solute diffusion.

Desmosomes

Intercellular junctions that provide strong adhesion between cells via cadherins.

Adherens junctions

Cell junctions that connect the actin cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane.

Proteoglycans

Core proteins with attached glycosaminoglycans; provide resilience and structure to the ECM.

Integrins

Transmembrane proteins that facilitate cell-ECM adhesion and signal transduction.

Fibronectin

An ECM glycoprotein that helps cellular adhesion and migration.

Collagen

A fibrous protein that provides structural support in connective tissues.

Glycocalyx

A carbohydrate-rich layer surrounding the cell membrane that plays a role in cell-cell interactions.

E-cadherin

A specific type of cadherin important for epithelial cell adhesion.

ICAMs

Intercellular adhesion molecules that facilitate leukocyte adhesion.

P-selectin

A type of selectin present on endothelial cells and platelets.

L-selectin

A selectin present on all types of leukocytes.

Transmembrane proteins

Proteins that span the entire lipid bilayer of a cell membrane.

Calcium-dependent adhesion

Cell adhesion that requires the presence of calcium ions.

Cell-cell interactions

Communication and binding between neighboring cells.

Wound healing

The biological process by which the skin or other tissues heal after injury.

Cellular differentiation

The process by which a cell changes from one cell type to another.

Embryogenesis

The development of a fertilized egg into a fully formed organism.

Neutrophil

A type of white blood cell involved in the immune response.

Extravasation

The process of leukocytes moving out of blood vessels into tissues.

Endothelial cells

Cells that line blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.

Microvessels

Small blood vessels that facilitate the exchange of nutrients and waste.

Cholesterol-rich microdomains

Areas in the cell membrane that are enriched with cholesterol and proteins involved in signaling.

G-protein coupled receptors

Large family of receptors that detect molecules outside the cell and activate internal signal transduction pathways.

Metastasis

The spread of cancer cells from the original site to other parts of the body.

Cell junctions

Structures that connect cells together and to the ECM.

Cytoskeletal reorganization

The rearrangement of the cytoskeleton that allows cells to change shape or move.

Ligands

Molecules that bind to a receptor to initiate a signal inside a cell.

Cell adhesion

The process by which cells interact and attach to neighboring cells or the ECM.

Stem cells

Undifferentiated cells with the potential to develop into various cell types.

Regeneration

The process by which cells and tissues repair and restore themselves.

Cell motility

The ability of cells to move and navigate through their environment.

Tissue strength

The structural integrity and ability of tissues to withstand stress.

Spontaneous cell sorting

The process by which cells rearrange themselves based on their adhesive properties, often observed during embryogenesis.

Hemidesmosomes

Structures that anchor epithelial cells to the underlying basal lamina.

Focal adhesions

Dynamic structures where cells attach to the ECM via integrins.

RGD sequence

A sequence of arginine, glycine, and aspartic acid that is important for cell-matrix adhesion.

Cell signaling

The process by which cells communicate with each other through signaling molecules.

Signal transduction pathways

Series of molecular events and reactions that lead to a response within the cell.

Receptor-ligand interactions

Binding of receptors on a cell surface with specific ligands to trigger cellular responses.

Calcium-independent adhesion

Adhesion processes that do not require calcium ions.