Role of mechanotransduction in stem cells and cancer progression

Mechanotransduction converts physical energy from the extracellular matrix (ECM) or the surrounding physical cues into the biochemical stimulus that drives several biological processes. Mechanosensitive molecules such as integrin, vimentin, and actin can sense the mechanical stimulus at the cell surface and convey it inside the cells through the reorganization of the cytoskeleton and alter the targeted gene expression. The differentiation of stem cells during the development and biological process such as regeneration or during the pathological conditions such as cancer progression and metastasis are all directly or indirectly regulated by mechanotransduction processes. These processes include fluid flow shear stress, hydrostatic pressure, and stiffness of the ECM that play major roles as the controlling forces. In this chapter, the fundamental idea of mechanotransduction and its role in the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and hematopoietic stem cells as well as in cancer stem cells, angiogenesis, cancer progression, and metastasis have been described.