noncellautonomous

Noncellautonomous is an adjective used in biology to describe effects that originate in one cell but influence other cells or tissues, rather than being confined to the cell that expresses a gene or pathway. This contrasts with cell-autonomous actions, where the outcome depends solely on processes within the cell itself.

In developmental biology and physiology, noncellautonomous signaling is common. Secreted morphogens, such as Hedgehog, Wnt, and BMP family members, diffuse through tissues to pattern development and coordinate cell fates in neighboring cells. In genetics and cell biology, researchers describe how mutant or specialized cells can affect their neighbors through signaling molecules, extracellular vesicles, or gap junctions, producing phenotypes that extend beyond the cell of origin.

In the nervous system and disease, noncellautonomous mechanisms are illustrated by glial support or inflammatory cells influencing neuron survival and function, and by tumor microenvironments in which stromal and immune cells, along with secreted factors, promote cancer progression and therapy resistance. Mechanistically, transmission can occur via secreted proteins, microvesicles and exosomes, metabolic coupling, or direct cell contact, enabling signals to cross cell boundaries.

Researchers study noncellautonomous effects using mosaic analysis, transplantation, lineage tracing, and chimeric models to distinguish cell-autonomous from noncellular contributions. Understanding noncellautonomous signaling informs developmental biology, tissue homeostasis, regenerative medicine, and approaches to treat diseases by targeting intercellular communication rather than a single cell type. The term is often used interchangeably with non-cell-autonomous, reflecting its role across diverse biological contexts.