title: Integrins and extracellular matrix in mechanotransduction.
abstract: Integrins bind extracellular matrix fibrils and associate with intracellular actin filaments through a variety of cytoskeletal linker proteins to mechanically connect intracellular and extracellular structures. Each component of the linkage from the cytoskeleton through the integrin-mediated adhesions to the extracellular matrix therefore transmits forces that may derive from both intracellular, myosin-generated contractile forces and forces from outside the cell. These forces activate a wide range of signaling pathways and genetic programs to control cell survival, fate, and behavior. Additionally, cells sense the physical properties of their surrounding environment through forces exerted on integrin-mediated adhesions. This article first summarizes current knowledge about regulation of cell function by mechanical forces acting through integrin-mediated adhesions and then discusses models for mechanotransduction and sensing of environmental forces.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Microbiology, Cell Biology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. maschwartz@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Martin Alexander
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D021982:Cell-Matrix Junctions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D004777:Environment; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins