Cells and tissues generate and are exposed to various mechanical forces that act across a
range of scales, from tissues to cells to organelles. Forces provide crucial signals to inform …

Cells exert, sense, and respond to physical forces through an astounding diversity of
mechanisms. Here we review recently developed tools to quantify the forces generated by …

Biomolecular and physical cues of the extracellular matrix environment regulate collective
cell dynamics and tissue patterning. Nonetheless, how the viscoelastic properties of the …

The mechanics of the cellular microenvironment continuously modulates cell functions such
as growth, survival, apoptosis, differentiation and morphogenesis via cytoskeletal …

Cell–cell junctions are specializations of the plasma membrane responsible for physically
integrating cells into tissues. We are now beginning to appreciate the diverse impacts that …

The monolayer of endothelial cells lining the vessel wall forms a semipermeable barrier (in
all tissue except the relatively impermeable blood–brain and inner retinal barriers) that …

Forces generated by cells are critical regulators of cell adhesion, signaling, and function,
and they are also essential drivers in the morphogenetic events of development. Over the …

Chemical and physical properties of the environment control cell proliferation, differentiation,
or apoptosis in the long term. However, to be able to move and migrate through a complex …

Cells respond to biochemical and biomechanical stimuli through changes in their
proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, secretion, contraction, motility, and adhesion. To …

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote tumour invasion and metastasis. We show
that CAFs exert a physical force on cancer cells that enables their collective invasion. Force …