title: Mechanotransduction and extracellular matrix homeostasis.
abstract: Soft connective tissues at steady state are dynamic; resident cells continually read environmental cues and respond to them to promote homeostasis, including maintenance of the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that are fundamental to cellular and tissue health. The mechanosensing process involves assessment of the mechanics of the ECM by the cells through integrins and the actomyosin cytoskeleton, and is followed by a mechanoregulation process, which includes the deposition, rearrangement or removal of the ECM to maintain overall form and function. Progress towards understanding the molecular, cellular and tissue-level effects that promote mechanical homeostasis has helped to identify key questions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University.
authors.forename: Jay D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yale University. [2] Department of Cell Biology, Yale University.
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Dufresne
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University. [2] Department of Cell Biology, Yale University. [3] Department of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520 USA.
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins