intercellular communication
(IN-ter-SEL-yoo-ler kuh-MYOO-nih-KAY-shun)
The transfer of
information from one cell to another. Cells signal each
other by direct contact with each other or by the release
of a substance from one cell that is taken up by another
cell. Intercellular communication is important for
cells to grow and work normally. Cells that lose the
ability to respond to signals from other cells may become
cancer cells. Also called cell-cell signaling and cell-to-cell signaling.