Zellenvermittlung

Zellenvermittlung is a descriptive term used in biology and medicine to denote the mediation of effects, signals, or functions by cells within biological systems. The phrase is not a fixed, universally standardized concept, but it is employed to describe how cells act as mediators in communication, regulation, and therapy.

In cellular communication, mediation occurs through various mechanisms that enable cells to influence neighboring or distant cells. These include paracrine signaling (signals released by one cell affecting nearby cells), autocrine signaling (a cell responding to signals it itself releases), and juxtacrine signaling (direct cell-to-cell contact). Additional modalities involve gap junctions that allow direct exchange of small molecules between adjacent cells and the release of extracellular vesicles that transfer proteins, nucleic acids, and other signaling molecules.

In immunology, the term is often related to cell-mediated immunity, where immune responses are driven primarily by immune cells such as T lymphocytes and natural killer cells rather than by antibodies. In developmental biology and tissue homeostasis, cells mediate morphogenetic cues, differentiation, and tissue repair through secreted factors and cell interactions.

Therapeutically, cell-mediated approaches rely on cells to exert beneficial effects. Examples include stem cell therapies, dendritic cell-based vaccines, and engineered T-cell therapies (such as CAR-T cells), where donor or modified cells mediate clinical outcomes.

Terminology and usage: Zellenvermittlung emphasizes the mediator role of cells but is not a precise technical term. More common expressions include Zellkommunikation (cell communication), Zellsignalgebung (cell signaling), zellvermittelte Immunität (cell-mediated immunity), and Zelltherapie (cell therapy).

See also: Zellkommunikation, Zellsignalgebung, Zelltherapie, Immunologie, Zelltransplantation.