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Updated: Mar 29, 2026

A Simplified System for Evaluating Cell Mechanosensing and Durotaxis In Vitro
Published on: August 27, 2015
Polycystins and mechanotransduction: From physiology to disease
Christina Piperi1, Efthimia K Basdra1
1Christina Piperi, Efthimia K Basdra, Department of Biological Chemistry - Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Unit, Medical School, University of Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Abstract:
Polycystins are key mechanosensor proteins able to respond to mechanical forces of external or internal origin. They are widely expressed in primary cilium and plasma membrane of several cell types including kidney, vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, osteoblasts and cardiac myocytes modulating their physiology. Interaction of polycystins with diverse ion channels, cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix junctional proteins implicates them in the regulation of cell structure, mechanical force transmission and mechanotransduction. Their intracellular localization in endoplasmic reticulum further regulates subcellular trafficking and calcium homeostasis, finely-tuning overall cellular mechanosensitivity. Aberrant expression or genetic alterations of polycystins lead to severe structural and mechanosensing abnormalities including cyst formation, deregulated flow sensing, aneurysms, defective bone development and cancer progression, highlighting their vital role in human physiology.
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