[Molecular structure and function of mechanosensor mechanisms: an alternative prospect for the development of new...

Mechanical stress to cells induces various physiological cellular responses and pathophysiological changes in many cell types. However, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Clarification of the mechanosensor mechanisms on the molecular level may provide an alternative approach for the development of new drugs. In the 73rd Annual Meeting of The Japanese Pharmacological Society, the latest studies performed by the following five departments were reported and discussed: 1) Expression of putative stretch sensitive nonselective cation channels of mammal, by M. Suzuki et al. (Department of Pharmacology, Jichi Medical School); 2) Mechanosensitive ATP release in aortic endothelial cells, by M. Oike et al. (Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyushu University); 3) Lysophosphatidic acid acts as an endogenous modulator on mechanotransduction, by H. Ohata et al. (Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Showa University); 4) Stretch-induced myosin light chain phosphorylation without force development in canine basilar artery, by K. Obara et al. (Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka); and 5) Transcriptional regulation of smooth muscle phenotypic modulation, by R. Nagai (Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo). This article reviews these reports.