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Special topic on receptor signaling in health and disease—preface

ZHANG Xiao-Yan^1,*, YU Xiao²

¹Health Science Center, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China；²School of Basic Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China

Abstract

A receptor is a molecule on the cell membrane or inside the cell that can specifically recognize its ligands (such as hormones, neurotransmitters, drugs, etc.) and amplify chemical signals, thereby causing biological effects. In multicellular organisms, communication between and within cells is crucial for the development and integrity of the organism. The key mediators of these processes are receptors, which sense and convert extracellular information, trigger intracellular signaling networks, and ultimately produce phenotypic responses. According to their location, receptors can be classified into membrane receptors and intracellular receptors. Cell membrane receptors mediate the signaling of hydrophilic molecules, such as cytokines and protein peptide hormones. And lipid soluble molecules such as steroid hormones and thyroid hormones can penetrate the cell membrane and bind to intracellular receptors. According to the characteristics of protein structure, signal transduction process, and effector properties of receptors, they can be divided into four categories: ion channel containing receptors, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), receptors with tyrosine kinase activity, and receptors that regulate gene expression. Acta Physiologica Sinica has established Special Topic on Receptor Signaling in Health and Disease, inviting domestic scholars to review the research progress of receptors and their signaling based on their own work, and report the latest research results.

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 张晓燕　　E-mail:

Citing This Article：

ZHANG Xiao-Yan, YU Xiao. Special topic on receptor signaling in health and disease—preface. Acta Physiol Sin 2024; 76 (6): 863-864 (in Chinese with English abstract).