(Micro)managing the mechanical microenvironment
Abstract
Mechanical forces are critical components of the cellular microenvironment and play a pivotal role in driving cellular processesin vivo. Dissecting cellular responses to mechanical forces is challenging, as even “simple” mechanical stimulation in vitro can cause multiple interdependent changes in the cellular microenvironment. These stimuli include solid deformation, fluid flows, altered physical and chemical surface features, and a complex transfer of loads between the various interacting components of a biological culture system. The active mechanical and biochemical responses of cells to these stimuli in generating internal forces, reorganizing cellular structures, and initiating intracellular signals that specify cell fate and remodel the surrounding environment further complicates cellular response to mechanical forces. Moreover, cells present a non-linear response to combinations of mechanical forces, materials, chemicals, surface features,