Mechanisms of disease: the biophysical interpretation of the ECM affects physiological and pathophysiological cellular behavior.
Physiological and pathophysiological migration during the development and systemic spread of tumor cells requires a highly regulated interaction with the extracellular matrix. Sensing of the physical properties of the matrix as well as of forces exerted by the cell or acting on a cell is a prerequisite for productive migration. This review focuses on current concepts of the transmission of a physical stimulus into a biochemical signal in non-neuronal cells. Moreover, we summarize the current concepts on the regulation of affinity-modulation and regulation of protein-turnover for the formation and functionality of adhesion sites with special emphasis on the role of oncogenic signal transduction pathways such as Src family kinases and focal adhesion kinase.
von Wichert
G
G
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Germany. goetz.wichert@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Sheetz
M P
MP
D000818:Animals; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*