Tenney Rebeca M, Discher Dennis E
Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2009 Oct;21(5):630-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2009.06.003. Epub 2009 Jul 15.
Physicochemical features of a cell's microenvironment can exert important effects on cell behavior and include the effects of matrix elasticity on cell differentiation processes, but molecular mechanisms are largely mysterious. Here we highlight recent reports of a mechanical dependence to growth factor activation, with a particular focus on release of TGFbeta (Transforming Growth Factor beta) from its large latent complex via forced unfolding. We discuss these processes and pathways in the contexts of matrix adhesion and fluid shearing as they might relate to stem cell differentiation and other mechanisms in development, disease, and repair.
细胞微环境的物理化学特征可对细胞行为产生重要影响，其中包括基质弹性对细胞分化过程的影响，但其分子机制在很大程度上仍是未知的。在此，我们重点介绍了近期有关生长因子激活存在机械依赖性的报道，特别关注了通过强制展开从其大的潜伏复合物中释放转化生长因子β（TGFβ）的过程。我们在基质黏附及流体剪切的背景下讨论这些过程和途径，因为它们可能与干细胞分化以及发育、疾病和修复中的其他机制相关。
