Mechanotransduction: Understanding the Cellular and Tissue Communication Mechanisms of Mechanical Forces

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Tissues and Organs".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2025) | Viewed by 2787

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
Interests: mechanical forces; cancer cells; mechanotransduction pathways

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The fields of cell and tissue mechanics have exploded in the last 25 years, and they have now become integral to our understanding of how normal and pathological cells and tissue form and function. Nonetheless, there are many things we still do not understand about how physical information is processed by the cell/tissue to significantly change their behavior. A significant finding was the Yap/Taz circuit, but as with biochemical ligands, physical forces come in many forms and are likely to utilize any number of communication pathways. The objective of this Special Issue is to gather information about the molecules of known or speculative mechanotransduction pathways. Our goal is to accumulate and put together puzzle pieces that may be useful to other researchers in the field.

Dr. Karen A. Beningo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • mechanotransduction
  • cell/tissue mechanics
  • physical communication

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

19 pages, 2067 KiB  
Review
Ovarian Mechanobiology: Understanding the Interplay Between Mechanics and Follicular Development
by Haiyang Wang and Liuqing Yang
Cells 2025, 14(5), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14050355 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1255
Abstract
The ovary is a dynamic organ where mechanical forces profoundly regulate follicular development, oocyte maturation, and overall reproductive function. These forces, originating from the extracellular matrix (ECM), granulosa and theca cells, and ovarian stroma, influence cellular behavior through mechanotransduction, translating mechanical stimuli into [...] Read more.
The ovary is a dynamic organ where mechanical forces profoundly regulate follicular development, oocyte maturation, and overall reproductive function. These forces, originating from the extracellular matrix (ECM), granulosa and theca cells, and ovarian stroma, influence cellular behavior through mechanotransduction, translating mechanical stimuli into biochemical responses. This review explores the intricate interplay between mechanical cues and ovarian biology, focusing on key mechanosensitive pathways such as Hippo signaling, the PI3K/AKT pathway, and cytoskeletal remodeling, which govern follicular dormancy, activation, and growth. Additionally, it examines how ovarian aging disrupts the mechanical microenvironment, with ECM stiffening and altered mechanotransduction contributing to a decline in ovarian reserve and reproductive potential. Emerging technologies, including 3D culture systems and organ-on-chip platforms, are highlighted for their ability to replicate the ovarian microenvironment and advance drug discovery and therapeutic interventions. By integrating mechanobiological principles, this review aims to enhance our understanding of ovarian function and provide new strategies for preserving fertility and combating infertility. Full article
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12 pages, 1307 KiB  
Review
Myosin Light Chains in the Progression of Cancer
by Savannah L. Kozole and Karen A. Beningo
Cells 2024, 13(24), 2081; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13242081 - 17 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1270
Abstract
The myosin light chains (MLCs) of non-muscle myosin II are known to regulate cellular architecture and generate cellular forces; they also have an increasingly emerging role in the progression of cancer. The phosphorylation state of the myosin light chains controls the activity of [...] Read more.
The myosin light chains (MLCs) of non-muscle myosin II are known to regulate cellular architecture and generate cellular forces; they also have an increasingly emerging role in the progression of cancer. The phosphorylation state of the myosin light chains controls the activity of myosins that are implicated in invasion and proliferation. In cancers, when proliferation is greatly increased, cytokinesis relies on phosphorylated light chains to activate the contractile forces used to separate the cells. Likewise, during metastasis, kinase pathways culminate in aligning MLC structures for enhanced cell motility through stress fiber contraction and the accumulation of myosin filaments at the leading edge. This review summarizes the myosin light chain family members known to promote cancer progression and evidence of how their altered activities change the behavior of cells involving the mechanical-based processes of proliferation and cell movements during metastasis. In addition, myosin light chains impact the immune response to cancers and currently serve as biomarkers in staging this disease; a brief summary of these topics is provided at the end of the review. Full article
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