Our bodies are complex networks of cells that constantly communicate. Traditionally, we thought only nerve cells could send messages quickly. But researchers in the U.S. have found that skin and organ cells, called epithelial cells, can also signal danger—albeit in a slower fashion. Instead of rapid-fire messages, these cells use a prolonged “scream” to alert nearby cells.
Steve Granick, a researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, remarked on this exciting discovery: “Epithelial cells do things that no one has ever thought to look for. When injured, they ‘scream’ to their neighbors, slowly, persistently, and over surprising distances.” This slow signaling is approximately 1,000 times slower than the impulses we see in nerve cells.
The study involved a special chip with about 60 electrodes that surveyed layers of human skin cells, known as keratinocytes. Researchers simulated injuries with lasers and monitored how these cells reacted. The signals they picked up registered at speeds of around 10 millimeters per second and could travel across several hundred micrometers from the injury site.
Interestingly, this method of communication shares similarities with how plants react when damaged—like when a caterpillar munches on a leaf. Both use a form of electrical signaling to relay messages about injury.
Granick and biomedical engineer Sun-Min Yu also found that these epithelial messages last much longer than neuronal signals, sometimes ringing out for up to five hours. They relied on tiny pores in cell membranes, called ion channels, which transport charged ions—primarily calcium—responsible for this communication. Unlike neural channels that react to voltage changes, epithelial channels respond more to mechanical forces, like pressure or stretching.
Researchers still have much to uncover. We don’t fully understand the mechanics behind this signaling or if different types of epithelial cells might react differently. However, these findings could pave the way for exciting advancements in medical technology. Imagine wearable devices that can promote wound healing or electronic bandages that respond to injury in real time.
Yu emphasized the significance of this discovery: “Understanding these screams between wounded cells opens doors we didn’t know existed.” The research results have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
As our understanding of cellular communication deepens, the potential for new biomedical applications grows, ultimately improving patient care and recovery processes.
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