Role of cell adhesions in neural development: Difference between revisions

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Mechanosensing is a process by which cells alter their bio-physical properties in response to mechanical cues present in the environment. It is well known that a wide-variety of cell types change their behavior to mechanical environmental signals.

In addition to providing force transmission to the ECM for neuron extension and development, Integrin mediated adhesions are also functional in these mechanosensing processes in neurons. Sensing of the external environments mechanical properties ''in vivo'' can determine cell behaviors such as differentiation and branching. It has been experimentally determined that increasing substrate stiffness (~2-80kPa) can result in sequestered neurite branching and branch length.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Man|first=Alan|title=Neurite Outgrowth in Fibrin Gels Is Regulated by Substrate Stiffness|journal=Tissue Engineering|year=2011|volume=17|issue=23 and 24|pages=2931-19412931–2942|doi=10.1089/ten.tea.2011.0030}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Jiang|first=Frank|title=Neurite Outgrowth on a DNA Crosslinked Hydrogel with Tunable Stiffnesses|journal=Annals of Biomedical Engineering|date=September 2008|volume=36|issue=9|pages=1565–1579|doi=10.1007/s10439-008-9530-z}}</ref>

==Relevant neurological conditions==