Sekretoituneet

Sekretoituneet is a term used in biology to describe substances or cells that have completed the process of secretion. It refers to molecules released by cells into extracellular spaces or body fluids, such as hormones, enzymes, mucus, and signaling proteins. In histology and physiology, distinguishing sekretoituneet components from intracellular material helps characterize tissue function and disease states.

In Finnish scientific literature the phrase denotes products actively secreted via cellular secretory pathways. Secreted substances may reside in tissue spaces, circulate in blood or lymph, or form luminal secretions such as saliva and intestinal mucus.

Secretion occurs through several modes. Merocrine secretion releases vesicles by exocytosis, while apocrine and holocrine modes involve partial or complete cell disruption. Secreted materials can be carried by exosomes or soluble in body fluids, and secretion can be constitutive or regulated by stimuli.

In research and medicine, sekretoituneet proteins are central to secretome analyses, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic development. Diseases may reflect altered secretion, including enzyme deficiencies, hormone dysregulation, or mucus overproduction.

See also: secretion, secretome, exocytosis.