Paracrine signaling is a form of cell-to-cell communication in which a cell produces a signal to induce changes in nearby cells. This type of signaling is crucial in various physiological processes and is distinguished from endocrine signaling, where signals (hormones) are distributed widely through the bloodstream. In paracrine signaling, the signals (often in the form of growth factors or cytokines) act locally and affect cells in the immediate vicinity of the signaling cell.
