Abstract
Cells in the musculoskeletal system are subjected to various mechanical forces in vivo. Years of research have shown that these mechanical forces, including tension and compression, greatly influence various cellular functions such as gene expression, cell proliferation and differentiation, and secretion of matrix proteins. Cells also use mechanotransduction mechanisms to convert mechanical signals into a cascade of cellular and molecular events. This mini-review provides an overview of cell mechanobiology to highlight the notion that mechanics, mainly in the form of mechanical forces, dictates cell behaviors in terms of both cellular mechanobiological responses and mechanotransduction.
Highlights
Mechanical forces act on humans at different levels, from the body as a whole to individual organs, tissues, and cells
Cellular Mechanobiological Responses Depending on the type of cell and loading conditions, application of mechanical forces to cells affects a spectrum of cellular functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation, gene expression and protein synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and production of cytokines and growth factors
Mechano-responsive cells are responsible for these mechano-effects, as years of intensive mechanobiology research have shown that external mechanical forces influence a wide spectrum of cellular events, including alterations in cell proliferation, differentiation, gene expression, and protein production
Summary
Mechanical forces act on humans at different levels, from the body as a whole to individual organs, tissues, and cells. 4. Cellular Mechanobiological Responses Depending on the type of cell and loading conditions, application of mechanical forces to cells affects a spectrum of cellular functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation, gene expression and protein synthesis of ECM components, and production of cytokines and growth factors. In human periodontal ligament fibroblasts, a 10% cyclic equi-biaxial compression decreased type I collagen mRNA expression and reduced synthesis of fibronectin as well as the amount of total protein; the same level of cyclic stretching increased type I collagen mRNA levels and total protein levels [50] These findings show that tensile and compressive forces with the same magnitude induce differential cellular mechanobiological responses. Such a switch directly controls the strength of α5β1-fibronectin bond by engaging the synergy site in fibronectin [92]
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