One of the most unique physical features of cell adhesion to external surfaces is the active
generation of mechanical force at the cell-material interface. This includes pulling forces …

Tensional homeostasis is a phenomenon of fundamental importance in mechanobiology. It
refers to the ability of organs, tissues, and cells to respond to external disturbances by …

The small GTPase Rho regulates the formation of actin stress fibers in adherent cells
through activation of its effector proteins Rho-kinase and mDia. We found in bovine aortic …

Mechanical cues from the extracellular microenvironment play a central role in regulating
the structure, function and fate of living cells. Nevertheless, the precise nature of the …

Adherent cells generate forces through acto-myosin contraction to move, change shape, and
sense the mechanical properties of their environment. They are thought to maintain defined …

The actin cytoskeleton plays a crucial role for the spreading of cells, but is also a key
element for the structural integrity and internal tension in cells. In fact, adhesive cells and …

The key role of electro-chemical signals in cellular processes had been known for many
years, but more recently the interplay with mechanics has been put in evidence and …

Numerous experimental studies have established that cells can sense the stiffness of
underlying substrates and have quantified the effect of substrate stiffness on stress fibre …

Cells actively sense the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix, such as its rigidity,
morphology, and deformation. The cell–matrix interaction influences a range of cellular …

Cyclic uniaxial stretching of adherent nonmuscle cells induces the gradual reorientation of
their actin stress fibers perpendicular to the stretch direction to an extent dependent on …