Integrins as biomechanical sensors of the microenvironment

Integrins, and integrin-mediated adhesions, have long been recognized to provide the main molecular link attaching cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and to serve as bidirectional hubs transmitting signals between cells and their environment. Recent evidence has shown that their combined bioche...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Kechagia, Jenny Z., Ivaska, Johanna, Roca-Cusachs Soulere, Pere
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Data de publicação:2019
País:España
Recursos:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositório:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/178767
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/178767
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Nanociència
Matriu extracel·lular
Integrines
Nanoscience
Extracellular matrix
Integrins
Descrição
Resumo:Integrins, and integrin-mediated adhesions, have long been recognized to provide the main molecular link attaching cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and to serve as bidirectional hubs transmitting signals between cells and their environment. Recent evidence has shown that their combined biochemical and mechanical properties also allow integrins to sense, respond to and interact with ECM of differing properties with exquisite specificity. Here, we review this work first by providing an overview of how integrin function is regulated from both a biochemical and a mechanical perspective, affecting integrin cell-surface availability, binding properties, activation or clustering. Then, we address how this biomechanical regulation allows integrins to respond to different ECM physicochemical properties and signals, such as rigidity, composition and spatial distribution. Finally, we discuss the importance of this sensing for major cell functions by taking cell migration and cancer as examples.