Final answer:
The mechanism of intercellular communication you are referring to is endocrine signaling, where hormones travel in the bloodstream to distant target cells that have the necessary receptors to initiate a cellular response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mechanism of intercellular communication where target cells are primarily in other tissues and organs, and must have appropriate receptors, is known as endocrine signaling. This involves the secretion of hormones into the bloodstream, where they travel to reach various distant cells that possess the necessary receptors to bind these signaling molecules, thereby initiating a response. The reception of these hormones can lead to a range of cellular responses, including altering gene expression, changing cellular activity, or affecting metabolic processes.
In endocrine signaling, hormones act as ligands that can bind to either internal receptors if they are hydrophobic and can cross the plasma membrane, or to cell-surface receptors if they are hydrophilic. Cell-surface receptors are involved in signal transduction, which converts an extracellular signal into an intercellular one, leading to a cellular response. These responses are crucial for maintaining homeostasis within the body and can be influenced by various factors, including receptor malfunctions, which may lead to diseases such as hypertension, asthma, heart disease, and cancer.