The ability to sense physical forces is conserved across all organisms. Cells convert
mechanical stimuli into electrical or chemical signals via mechanically activated ion …

Mechanotransduction is a fundamental ability that allows living organisms to receive and
respond to physical signals from both the external and internal environments. The …

Itch triggers scratching, a behavioural defence mechanism that aids in the removal of
harmful irritants and parasites. Chemical itch is triggered by many endogenous and …

Cellular mechanotransduction, the process of translating mechanical forces into biological
signals, is crucial for a wide range of physiological processes. A role for ion channels in …

Tumor cell intravasation preferentially occurs in regions of low fluid shear because high
shear is detrimental to tumor cells. Here, we describe a molecular mechanism by which cells …

Enterochromaffin (EC) cells constitute the largest population of intestinal epithelial
enteroendocrine (EE) cells. EC cells are proposed to be specialized mechanosensory cells …

The transmission of the heartbeat through the cerebral vascular system causes intracranial
pressure pulsations. We discovered that arterial pressure pulsations can directly modulate …

Almost every muscle contains muscle spindles. These delicate sensory receptors inform the
central nervous system (CNS) about changes in the length of individual muscles and the …

Mechanical factors play critical roles in the pathogenesis of joint disorders like osteoarthritis
(OA), a prevalent progressive degenerative joint disease that causes debilitating pain …

Piezo ion channels are sensors of mechanical forces and mediate a wide range of
physiological mechanotransduction processes. More than a decade of intense research has …