Living cells are constantly exposed to mechanical stimuli arising from the surrounding
extracellular matrix (ECM) or from neighboring cells. The intracellular molecular processes …

Cell adhesion is essential in cell communication and regulation, and is of fundamental
importance in the development and maintenance of tissues. The mechanical interactions …

Stem cell behaviors are regulated by multiple microenvironmental cues. As an external
signal, mechanical stiffness of the extracellular matrix is capable of governing stem cell fate …

Integrins are cell adhesion receptors that are evolutionary old and that play important roles
during developmental and pathological processes. The integrin family is composed of 24 αβ …

Repair of damaged skeletal‐muscle tissue is limited by the regenerative capacity of the
native tissue. Current clinical approaches are not optimal for the treatment of large …

The architecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM) directs cell behavior by providing spatial
and mechanical cues to which cells respond. In addition to soluble chemical factors …

Integrins bind extracellular matrix fibrils and associate with intracellular actin filaments
through a variety of cytoskeletal linker proteins to mechanically connect intracellular and …

Directed cell migration is a physical process that requires dramatic changes in cell shape
and adhesion to the extracellular matrix. For efficient movement, these processes must be …

Blood and lymphatic vessels are lined by endothelial cells which constantly interact with
their luminal and abluminal extracellular environments. These interactions confer physical …

Matrix and tissue rigidity guides many cellular processes, including the differentiation of
stem cells and the migration of cells in health and disease. Cells actively and transiently test …