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An Ex vivo Model to Study Hormone Action in the Human Breast
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What is a hormone?

L Stárka1, M Dušková

  • 1Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic. lstarka@endo.cz.

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Summary
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Hormone definitions are evolving. While Starling's initial concept focused on internal secretions, modern understanding highlights hormones as crucial information carriers, blurring lines with other signaling molecules.

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Signaling

Background:

  • Starling's 1905 definition of hormones as internal secretions carrying signals via blood is now considered insufficient.
  • Contemporary definitions struggle to precisely delineate hormones from other signaling molecules like cytokines and growth factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the evolution of hormone definitions.
  • To explore the challenges in distinguishing hormones from other endogenous signaling substances.
  • To highlight the functional overlap between hormones and molecules like cytokines and growth factors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of historical and contemporary definitions of hormones.
  • Analysis of scientific literature to identify signaling molecules with dual hormonal and non-hormonal functions.
  • Comparative analysis of molecular signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Hormone definitions have evolved significantly since Starling's initial concept.
  • A clear distinction between hormones and other signaling molecules (cytokines, growth factors) is often lacking.
  • Several cytokines and growth factors (e.g., erythropoietin, FGF23) exhibit hormonal functions under specific conditions.

Conclusions:

  • The traditional definition of hormones is inadequate for current biological understanding.
  • The functional overlap necessitates a more nuanced classification of signaling molecules.
  • Recognizing the context-dependent hormonal roles of various molecules is crucial for future research.