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Mechanical cues in cellular signalling and communication

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Abstract

Multicellular organisms comprise an organized array of individual cells surrounded by a meshwork of biomolecules and fluids. Cells have evolved various ways to communicate with each other, so that they can exchange information and thus fulfil their specified and unique functions. At the same time, cells are also physical entities that are subjected to a variety of local and global mechanical cues arising in the microenvironment. Cells are equipped with several different mechanisms to sense the physical properties of the microenvironment and the mechanical forces arising within it. These mechanical cues can elicit a variety of responses that have been shown to play a crucial role in vivo. In this review, we discuss the current views and understanding of cell mechanics and demonstrate the emerging evidence of the interplay between physiological mechanical cues and cell-cell communication pathways.

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Acknowledgments

A.E.P. gratefully acknowledges generous support from the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program and a Province of Ontario Early Researcher Award. N.V.B is grateful for a postdoctoral fellowship provided by the University of Ottawa Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) CREATE program in Quantitative Biomedicine. This work was supported by an NSERC Discovery Grant, an NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplement and a CRC Operating Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Nickolay V. Bukoreshtliev, Kristina Haase & Andrew E. Pelling

  2. Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Andrew E. Pelling

  3. Institute for Science, Society and Policy, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Andrew E. Pelling

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  1. Nickolay V. Bukoreshtliev
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  2. Kristina Haase
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  3. Andrew E. Pelling
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Correspondence to Andrew E. Pelling.

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Bukoreshtliev, N.V., Haase, K. & Pelling, A.E. Mechanical cues in cellular signalling and communication. Cell Tissue Res 352, 77–94 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-012-1531-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-012-1531-4

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