Soluvälinen

Soluvälinen is a Finnish term used in biology and medicine to refer to phenomena, structures, and interactions that occur between cells. The word combines solu, meaning "cell," with välinen, meaning "between" or "inter-," and is used to describe intercellular processes at tissue and organism levels.

In practice, soluvälinen phenomena include cell-to-cell signaling, adhesion, and exchange of nutrients or signaling molecules through intercellular spaces. In animals, intercellular communication commonly involves gap junctions that allow direct cytoplasmic exchange, while in plants, plasmodesmata serve as intercellular channels. The extracellular matrix also plays a role as a medium that lies between cells and influences soluvälinen interactions.

Soluvälinen processes are essential for development, immune responses, wound healing, and tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation is linked to diseases such as cancer, inflammatory conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Usage notes: the term is standard in Finnish-language texts but may be used variably or interchangeably with more specific terms like soluvälinen signaling or cell-to-cell communication. In some contexts, more precise terms distinguish autocrine, paracrine, or junctional mechanisms.

Related concepts include intercellular space, extracellular matrix, gap junctions, plasmodesmata, and cell adhesion molecules.