How can cell communication be disrupted?

Cell communication can be disrupted in several different mechanisms. One way is by altering one or more proteins of the signaling cascade so that they cannot receive and amplify the signal. Chemical messengers can also be blocked from traveling or reaching the target cells. Cell communication can also be disrupted by altering the cell surface receptor in which the ligand originally binds to and prevent the cell from producing chemical messengers. The signal for cell communication may also never be sent, or be intercepted along the way. For example, in type 1 diabetes, the insulin signal is never produced. Disruption of cell communication may also lead to malignancies.