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Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Physiological, Morphological and Neurochemical Characterization of Neurons Modulated by Movement
Published on: April 21, 2011
Intracellular Pressure: A Driver of Cell Morphology and Movement
Pragati Chengappa1, Kimheak Sao1, Tia M Jones1
1Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Abstract:
Intracellular pressure, generated by actomyosin contractility and the directional flow of water across the plasma membrane, can rapidly reprogram cell shape and behavior. Recent work demonstrates that cells can generate intracellular pressure with a range spanning at least two orders of magnitude; significantly, pressure is implicated as an important regulator of cell dynamics, such as cell division and migration. Changes to intracellular pressure can dictate the mechanisms by which single human cells move through three-dimensional environments. In this review, we chronicle the classic as well as recent evidence demonstrating how intracellular pressure is generated and maintained in metazoan cells. Furthermore, we highlight how this potentially ubiquitous physical characteristic is emerging as an important driver of cell morphology and behavior.
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