Juxtacrine signalling

In biology, juxtacrine signaling is a type of intercellular communication which is transmitted via oligosaccharide, lipid or protein components of a cell membrane and may affect either the emitting cell or immediately adjacent cells.

It occurs between adjacent cells that possess broad patches of closely opposed plasma membrane linked by transmembrane channels known as connexons. The gap between the cells can only usually be between 2-4nm.

Unlike other types of cell signaling (such as paracrine and endocrine), juxtacrine signaling requires physical contact between the two cells involved.

Juxtacrine signaling has been observed for some growth factors, cytokine and chemokine cellular signals.