See Also: Herbal medicine (botanical medicine, herbology, phytomedicine)(health)
Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital- Medicine Lodge(health)
Orthomolecular medicine (orthomolecular nutritional medicine, orthomolecular therapy)(health)
Regulation G(finance)
Regulation(finance)
down-regulation(medicine)
regulation(dictionary)
up-regulation(medicine)
Regulation A(money)
Regulation M(finance)

down-regulation (medicine)


down-regulation
<physiology> Development of a refractory or tolerant state consequent upon repeated administration of a pharmacologically or physiologically active substance.

It is the process that decreases ligand and receptor interactions or reduces the responsiveness of a cell to a stimulus following first exposure.

This is often accompanied by an initial decrease in affinity of receptors for the agent and a subsequent reduction in the number of available receptors expressed on the surface which can result from internalisation of the ligand:receptor complex or from decreased expression of the receptor.

Classically the concept referred to hormone receptors but contemporary usage includes other cell surface receptors.