Potential role of mutations and inhibited intercellular communication in the genesis of some chronic diseases

Abstract

Based on the assumption that the initiation/promotion concept is applicable to the understanding of the genesis of several major chronic diseases (i.e., cancer, atherosclerosis), recommendations were made to examine the basic mechanisms influencing both of these processes. Since both nutations and stable epigenetic changes could bring about the “initiated”; phenotype, fundamental research aimed at understanding muta‐genesis and gene regulation could contribute to one component of the genesis of these chronic diseases. Promotion seems to involve the clonal expansion of initiated cells. Of the many pleiotropic effects of tumor promoters on tissues and cells, the study of the role of promoters’ ability to inhibit intercellular communication was suggested. Since intercellular communication mechanisms are known to be related to the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in both the developing and adult organism, disruption of these intercellular communication processes could lead to dysfunction in development (teratogenesis) and to hyperpiasia in mature tissues (tumor promotion).

Key words:

• Mutagens
• intercellular communication
• initiation
• promotion
• teratogenesis