What is the Origin of Tissue Resistance?

The term emerged from clinical observations, particularly in diabetes research, where patients exhibited high levels of circulating insulin yet displayed signs of hormone deficiency. The concept shifted the focus from hormone quantity to receptor quality and post-receptor signaling integrity. It highlights a key homeostatic failure point in endocrinology, indicating that the problem lies with the receiving cell, not the secreting gland.

What is the Mechanism of Tissue Resistance?

Resistance occurs due to defects at the receptor level, such as a reduced number of receptors or a decrease in their binding affinity, or more commonly, due to post-receptor signaling pathway impairments. Chronic inflammation, genetic factors, or chronic over-stimulation can disrupt the cascade of intracellular events that follow hormone binding. This mechanism effectively blunts the hormonal signal, leading to systemic metabolic and endocrine dysfunction.

Tissue Resistance ∞ Area

Tissue Resistance

Meaning

Tissue Resistance is a state of reduced cellular responsiveness where target cells fail to elicit a normal biological response despite the presence of adequate or even elevated concentrations of a specific hormone. This endocrine phenomenon is a central feature of many metabolic disorders, most notably insulin resistance, where target tissues do not respond effectively to insulin. It represents a breakdown in the crucial communication between the hormone signal and the cellular receptor.