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Updated: Nov 1, 2025

Studying the Effects of Matrix Stiffness on Cellular Function using Acrylamide-based Hydrogels
Published on: August 10, 2010
Matrix stiffness and its influence on pancreatic diseases
Weifan Zhang1, Simei Zhang1, Wunai Zhang1
1Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710061 Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.
Abstract:
The matrix stiffness of the extracellular matrix(ECM), which is the slow elastic force on cells, has gradually become investigated. And a higher stiffness could induce changes in cell biological behaviors and activation of internal signaling pathways. Imbalanced stiffness of ECM is associated with a number of diseases, including pancreatic disease. In this review, we discuss the components of the ECM and the increased stiffness caused by unbalanced ECM changes. Next, we describe how matrix stiffness transmits mechanical signals and what signaling pathways are altered within the cell in detail. Finally, we discuss the effect of ECM on the behavior of pancreatic diseases from the perspective of matrix stiffness.
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