Mechanical flow disruption

"Mechanical flow disruption" describes a physical or physiological event where mechanical forces—often from fluid shear stress or deformation—cause *plasma membrane disruptions* (PMD) in cells. These disruptions permit the temporary flux of molecules across the plasma membrane, initiating intracellular signaling cascades important for mechanotransduction, tissue adaptation, and paracrine signaling. For example, in various tissues (cardiac and skeletal muscle, endothelial cells, epithelial cells), PMD can lead to the release of secondary messengers such as ATP and nitric oxide and transient activation of gene expression (e.g., c-fos), influencing downstream processes like repair, remodeling, or disease initiation[1][2]. While essential for normal adaptation, chronic or excessive mechanical disruption is implicated in pathologies such as cardiovascular disease, fibrosis, and cancer[5][6].\nMechanically induced plasma membrane disruptions are rapidly repaired by cells, and the repair process is itself regulated by the magnitude and frequency of the mechanical challenge[1]. "Mechanical flow disruption" is therefore a mechanistic concept, not a druggable target.

Other names

Plasma membrane disruption (PMD)mechanical cell woundingmembrane injury