Retrocrine

This term has been suggested to describe a type of growth control by which soluble forms of receptors that are normally a component of the cell surface membrane interact with distant target cells by binding to membrane-bound forms of cytokines that are normally secreted by cells.

Retrocrine growth control mechanism

For other types of growth control see also: autocrine , intracrine , juxtacrine , paracrine .

References: Butera ST Cytokine involvement in viral permissiveness and the progression of HIV disease. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 53: 336-42 (1993)