Mechanical stimuli control liver homeostasis

Lemaigre, Frédéric [UCL]

(eng) Mechanical cues are known to control cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and malignant transformation. Such cues include compression, shear stress from blood flow, and stretch generated by cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Physical stimuli of the microenvironment are sensed by cell membrane-associated proteins such as integrins, ion channels, or growth factor receptors. They are then propagated to the actomyosin cytoskeleton whose contractility regulates intracellular signalling pathways, eventually leading to changes in gene expression and determination of the appropriate cellular response.