Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- Section I: the body. Cells: they talk about everything! ; Signals for migrating white blood cells ; T cells: masters of immunity ; Capillaries: the "brain centers" of tissue development ; Platelets: much more than a plug ; Conversations in the gut ; Signaling across the skin landscape ; Cancer cells: the ultimate manipulators -- Section II: the brain. The world of neurons ; The supportive role of astrocytes ; Microglia: master regulators of the brain ; The Myelin-producing oligodendrocytes ; Guardian cells of the brain ; Pain and inflammation -- Section III: the world of microbe communication. Microbial behavior and conversations ; Battles between microbes and human cells ; Microbe politics in the gut ; Microbe influences on the brain ; The complex world of viruses ; Microbe-plant interactions ; Microbes' love-hate relationship with cancer ; Microbial conversations with organelles -- Section IV: conversations inside cells. Communication among organelles ; Mitochondrial conversations ; Membrane production ; Transporting materials on scaffolding highways ; Dendritic highways ; The significance of cilia ; Talking molecules? The case for mTOR -- Concluding our tour of cellular conversations -- Appendix.

"While cells are commonly considered the building block of living things, it is actually the communication between cells that brings us to life, controlling our bodies and brains, determining whether we are healthy or sick, and directly influencing how we think, feel, and behave. In The Secret Language of Cells, doctor and neuroscientist Jon Lieff lets us listen in on these conversations, and reveals their significance for everything from mental health to cancer. He explains the surprising science of how very different cells--bacteria and brain cells, blood cells and viruses--all speak the same language. This overarching principle has been long overlooked because scientific journals use impenetrable jargon that makes it hard to be understood across disciplines, much less by the general public." -- Amazon.com.

"Renowned neuroscientist, lecturer and social-media sensation Jon Lieff provides ground-breaking cellular science that affects our immunity, mental health, weight loss and disease"--