From the Guidelines
A secretome refers to the complete set of proteins and other molecules secreted by a cell, tissue, or organism into its surrounding environment, playing crucial roles in cell-to-cell communication, immune responses, and various physiological processes. These secreted substances include proteins, enzymes, hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and other signaling molecules. The secretome is particularly important in understanding how cells interact with their environment and with other cells, and its composition can change in response to different conditions such as stress, disease states, or developmental stages, making it a dynamic reflection of cellular activity and health 1.
Some of the key aspects of a secretome include:
- Its role in cell-to-cell communication and immune responses
- Its composition, which can include proteins, enzymes, hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and other signaling molecules
- Its dynamic nature, changing in response to different conditions such as stress, disease states, or developmental stages
- Its importance in understanding how cells interact with their environment and with other cells
Understanding secretomes has applications in:
- Drug development
- Regenerative medicine
- Diagnostic tool creation
- Identifying potential biomarkers for diseases and therapeutic targets
For example, cancer cells often have altered secretomes that contribute to tumor growth and metastasis, highlighting the importance of studying secretomes in biotechnology and medicine 1. Additionally, the secretome of senescent cells, which develop a "senescence-associated secretory phenotype" (SASP), can secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, growth factors, and matrix proteases, interfering with tissue repair and regeneration 1.
Overall, the secretome is a critical aspect of cellular biology, and its study has significant implications for our understanding of cellular activity, health, and disease. Studying secretomes can provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between cells and their environment, and can lead to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
From the Research
Definition of Secretome
- The secretome is referred to as the rich, complex set of molecules secreted from living cells 2.
- It includes molecules shed from the surface of living cells, and proteins of the secretome play a key role in cell signaling, communication, and migration 2.
- The secretome is the collection of all macromolecules secreted by a cell, and is a vital aspect of cell-cell communication in eukaryotes 3.
Importance of Secretome
- The proteins secreted by human cells (collectively referred to as the secretome) are important not only for the basic understanding of human biology but also for the identification of potential targets for future diagnostics and therapies 4.
- The secretome may be a valuable source of potential biomarkers for detecting cancer and measuring the effectiveness of cancer therapies 5.
- The cancer secretome is a promising source of biomarkers as the secreted proteins are most likely to enter the blood circulation 6.
Characteristics of Secretome
- The secretome represents a potential source for potential biomarkers that are expressed in intracellular signaling and therefore may reflect changes induced by targeted therapy 5.
- A large number of the proteins of the secretome are not secreted out of the cell, but instead are retained intracellularly, whereas another large group of proteins were identified that are predicted to be retained locally at the tissue of expression and not secreted into the blood 4.
- The secretome can contribute to the acquisition and maintenance of the recognised hallmarks of cancer, and evidence is emerging for a more sophisticated role for the tumour secretome in cancer 3.