Hormone receptor upregulation is a specific physiological process where the number of hormone receptors expressed on the surface or within the interior of a target cell increases in response to a stimulus, typically a prolonged period of low hormone concentration. This mechanism is a crucial component of cellular communication, designed to enhance the cell’s sensitivity to a diminished hormonal signal. Clinically, it represents a potential therapeutic pathway to improve target tissue responsiveness without necessarily increasing the circulating hormone dose.
Origin
This term is a core concept in cellular biology and endocrinology, derived from the study of cell signaling and feedback mechanisms. The principle of upregulation emerged from the observation that cells dynamically adjust their receptor population to maintain homeostasis, ensuring that even minor hormonal fluctuations can elicit an appropriate biological response. It highlights the dynamic plasticity of the endocrine system.
Mechanism
The mechanism is primarily mediated at the transcriptional level, where a low concentration of the hormone or a secondary signaling pathway triggers the cell’s nucleus to increase the synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding the receptor protein. This leads to the production and insertion of more receptors into the cell membrane or cytoplasm. The increased receptor density subsequently amplifies the cell’s response to the available hormone, effectively increasing the overall hormonal effect on the target tissue.
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