Therapeutic targeting of dysregulated cellular communication

Intercellular communication represents a fundamental phenomenon in multicellular eukaryote organisms, such as in the human beings. Multicellularity has allowed developing cells involved in different works. Within the same organisms, some cells function as nutrient providers, while other cells are involved in defense responses or reproduction. Multiple cell-types join to form tissues, such as muscle, blood, vascular and brain tissue. In this scenario, signaling systems are crucial to ensure the harmonious development of multicellular structures and functions. Cells have to sense information from the outside environment, including the availability of nutrients, changes in temperature, or light levels and then the information has to be transmitted intracellularly. Considering that tissues are constituted by different cell-types which have to collaborate to carry on a particular function, the intercellular communication is a major factor (Figure 1 ), and dysfunctional cellular crosstalk promotes the development of various types of diseases, including atherothrombosis and cancer (1).