Cellular Mechanotransduction Pathways

Cellular mechanotransduction pathways are the integrated systems through which cells convert mechanical stimuli—such as tension, compression, and fluid shear stress—into biochemical signals (Sun et al., 2016). This process is mediated by a diverse array of mechanosensors, including mechanosensitive ion channels like Piezo1 and Piezo2, integrin-based focal adhesions, and certain G protein-coupled receptors (Kefauver et al., 2020). Once activated, these sensors trigger downstream cascades involving kinases (e.g., FAK, Rho-kinase) and transcriptional effectors like YAP and TAZ, which ultimately regulate gene expression related to cell growth, migration, and fate (Panciera et al., 2017). In clinical contexts, aberrant mechanotransduction is a key driver of diseases such as cardiac hypertrophy, pulmonary hypertension, and cancer, where increased tissue stiffness promotes malignancy (Jaalouk & Lammerding, 2009). While targeting specific components like integrins or YAP/TAZ offers therapeutic promise, the fundamental role of mechanotransduction in maintaining normal tissue homeostasis presents a significant challenge for achieving therapeutic windows without systemic toxicity (Ingber, 2006).

Other names

MechanosignalingBiomechanical transductionMechanical signalingMechanotransduction

Mechanotransduction involves the conversion of mechanical forces into biochemical signals via conformational changes in mechanosensitive proteins (e.g., Piezo channels, integrins), which then activate intracellular signaling pathways such as the Hippo-YAP or Rho/ROCK cascades (Sun et al., 2016; Kefauver et al., 2020).