Autocrine signaling

Autocrine signaling is a form of cell signaling in which a cell secretes a hormone or chemical messenger (called the autocrine agent) that binds to autocrine receptors on that same cell, leading to changes in the cell.

Interleukin-1

An example of an autocrine agent is the cytokine interleukin-1 in monocytes (see Interleukin). When interleukin-1 is produced in response to external stimuli, it can bind to cell-surface receptors on the same cell that produced it (see Interleukin receptors).

Wnt signaling pathway

Normally, the Wnt signaling pathway leads to stabilization of β-catenin (see Catenin) through inactivation of a protein complex containing the tumor suppressors Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and Axin. Genetic alterations that lead to de-regulation of the autocrine Wnt pathway result in transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and other pathways, in turn contributing to proliferation of tumor cells.