Mechanical stimulation of biological tissues

Mechanical stimulation refers to the application of physical forces—such as stretch, compression, fluid shear, or vibration—to cells and tissues in order to influence their growth, differentiation, and function[1][4]. In tissue engineering, mechanical stimulation is crucial for mimicking the physiological environment, enhancing cell proliferation, guiding differentiative fate, and promoting tissue regeneration. Mechanotransduction is the cellular process that converts these mechanical cues into biochemical signals, involving key effectors such as Piezo channels, integrins, YAP/TAZ, and transient receptor potential channels[4]. While mechanical stimulation plays vital roles in development and tissue maintenance, excessive or abnormal mechanical forces are implicated in fibrosis, tumorigenesis, and therapeutic resistance. It is important to note that "mechanical stimulation" describes an intervention or stimulus, not a singular molecular entity, receptor, or therapeutic target[1][4].

Other names

Mechanical stimulationMechanostimulationBiomechanical stimulationMechanical cues