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Contribute | Essential Info: What is the Physiological Relevance of Mechanobiology?2.1 OverviewCells are constantly under strain from a range of external forces, including tensile and compressive forces, hydrostatic pressure and fluid shear stress. For an introduction to the different types of force encountered by cells please see Types of forces cells may encounter.The ability of the cell to detect these external forces is known as ‘passive’ mechanosensing [1] and is usually conducted in a multifaceted process that incorporates various transmembrane receptors, structural elements and support proteins. Whilst cells can detect and process external forces, they are also able to exert their own internal forces as a means of ‘active’ mechanosensing. This involves structural rearrangements of the cytoskeleton and surrounding membranes to allow the detection and measurement of rigidity, surface topography or ligand density [1]. For more details on active and passive forms of mechanosensing please see Types of mechanosensing. Cell motility is central to mechanosensing, as it positions the cell in the appropriate context for detection of its ever-changing environment. The detection and transduction of external forces results in the production of an appropriate mechanoresponse, which in itself can be in the form of cell motility, creating a feedback loop. Although mechanical forces are exerted and detected at a cellular level, their effects are noticeable on much larger scales. The detection of mechanical forces works together with biochemical signals to drive tissue and organ development and ensure the efficient function of the bodies many systems. Current research efforts highlight the importance of mechanobiology in developmental biology, tissue repair and remodeling, the immune response and in diseases such as cancer and various vascular pathologies. Four broad areas of research in which mechanobiology has an increasingly prominent role are discussed below, with particular emphasis on mechanosensing and cell motility: |
References
- Holle AW. & Engler AJ. More than a feeling: discovering, understanding, and influencing mechanosensing pathways. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 2011; 22(5):648-54. [PMID: 21536426]
