Unraveling the Mechanobiology of the Immune System

Adv Healthc Mater. 2019 Feb;8(4):e1801332. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201801332. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Abstract

Cells respond and actively adapt to environmental cues in the form of mechanical stimuli. This extends to immune cells and their critical role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Multiple recent studies have begun illuminating underlying mechanisms of mechanosensation in modulating immune cell phenotypes. Since the extracellular microenvironment is critical to modify cellular physiology that ultimately determines the functionality of the cell, understanding the interactions between immune cells and their microenvironment is necessary. This review focuses on mechanoregulation of immune responses mediated by macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells, in the context of modern mechanobiology.

Keywords: immune cells; immune response; mechanobiology; mechanoregulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Biophysics*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*