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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Phys Life Rev. 2017 Jun 21;22-23:88–119. doi: 10.1016/j.plrev.2017.06.016

Figure 5. Cellular mechanosensing in response to matrix rigidity: signaling dynamics.

Figure 5

(A) The lineage of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is strongly affected by the modulus of the substratum upon which they are cultured [26]. (B) The conversion of fibroblasts into myofibroblast is also regulated by external mechanical cues [73]. (C) YAP/TAZ nuclear translocation has been shown to be influenced by ECM stiffness and shape [145]. (D) FDGF can significantly increase the lifetime and size of CDRs on stiff substrata [14]. (E) Signaling pathway dynamic model for cell shape, migration and differentiation. The matrix rigidity is transduced into intracellular signals via adhesion molecules such as FAK and Src. Adhesion-mediated mechanosensing signals include Rho/ROCK/myosin II, Rho/mDia1/F-actin, SF/YAP/TEAD and SF/MAL/SRF. Other related signals related to soluble factors are TGFβ/p38/αSMA and PDGF/Rac/Arp2/3. A synergistic effect between the mechanical sensing and the chemical signals is predicted due in part to the interaction of Rac/Rho and ERK/p38.