Effects of mechanical forces and stretch on intercellular gap junction coupling

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1828; no. 1; pp. 147 - 156
• Main Authors: Salameh, Aida, Dhein, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Bone and Bones - cytology; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Cell Communication; Connexin; Connexins - metabolism; Connexins - physiology; Coronary Vessels - cytology; Coronary Vessels - physiology; Gap junction; Gap Junctions - metabolism; Gap Junctions - physiology; Heart; Humans; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Myocardium - cytology; Myocytes, Cardiac - metabolism; Myocytes, Cardiac - physiology; Shear stress; Stress, Physiological; Stretch; Vasculature; Heart; Stretch; Shear stress; Connexin; Gap junction; Vasculature

Mechanical forces provide fundamental physiological stimulus in living organisms. Recent investigations demonstrated how various types of mechanical load, like strain, pressure, shear stress, or cyclic stretch can affect cell biology and gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC). Depending on...