This book presents the latest findings in the field of research of mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction in different cells and tissues. Mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction of the heart and vascular cells, in the lung, in bone and joint tissues, in sensor systems and in blood cells are described in detail. This Volume focuses on molecular mechanisms of mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction via cytoskeleton. Integrin-mediated mechanotransduction, the role of actin cytoskeleton and the role of other cytoskeletal elements are discussed. It contains a detailed description of several stretch-induced signaling cascades with multiple levels of crosstalk between different pathways. It contains a description of the role of nitric oxide in regulation of cardiac activity and in regulation of mechanically gated channels in the heart. In the heart mechanical signals are propagated into the intracellular space primarily via integrin-linked complexes, and are subsequently transmitted from cell to cell via paracrine signaling. Biochemical signals derived from mechanical stimuli activate both acute phosphorylation of signaling cascades, such as in the PI3K, FAK, and ILK pathways, and long-term morphological modii cations via intracellular cytoskeletal reorganization and extracellular matrix remodelling. Cellular and molecular effects of mechanical stretch on vascular cells are also discussed. This Volume highlights the role of mechanotransduction in the lung, in bone and joint tissues. For the first time mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction in blood cells are discussed. It contains new insights into mechanosensitive K+ channels functioning in mouse B lymphocytes. This book is a unique collection of reviews outlining current knowledge and future developments in this rapidly growing field. Currently, investigations of the molecular mechanisms of mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction are focused on several issues. The majority of studies investigate intracellular signaling pathways. Knowledge of the mechanisms which underlie these processes is necessary for understanding of the normal functioning of different organs and tissues and allows to predict changes, which arise due to alterations of their environment. Possibly such knowledge will allow the development of new methods of artificial intervention and therapies. This book brings up the problem closer to the experts in related medical and biological sciences as well as practicing doctors besides just presenting the latest achievements in the field.

Investigation of the mechanisms of cellular response to different mechanical stimuli, as well as mechano-electrical feedback (MEF) in the intact heart is one of the main topics in fundamental and clinical cardiology. The present volume of "Mechanosensitivity in Cells and Tissues: Mechanosensitivity of the Heart" c- bines excellent reviews written by worldwide leaders in this ?eld. The 3rd volume is a great addition to this excellent series of books edited by Andre Kamkin and Irina Kiseleva. This volume successfully combines reviews, aimed at academic, physiology and clinical cardiology communities, devoted to mechanosensitivity of the normal and diseased heart at the ion channel, cell, tissue and organ levels. Kamkin and Kiseleva have made signi?cant contributions to the investigation of mechanosentive ion channels in cardiomyocytes and ?broblasts. Their ba- ground, in addition to extensive collaborations helped them to ?nd and consolidate valuable research ?ndings from prominent specialists in the ?eld of cardiac mechanosensitivity. In the last decade, interest in the role of MEF in the heart has increased sign- cantly. MEF within cardiac tissue is a complex phenomenon in which electroph- iological changes are triggered by myocardial stretch. This phenomenon has been studiedintheclinicalcommunityforoveracenturyandmayhavebothpro-rhythmic and arrhythmogenic consequences. While signi?cant advances have been made in understanding of the effects of mechanical forces on cardiac cells, many questions remain regarding the mechanisms whereby mechanical forces are transduced into changes which alter the behavior of various cardiac cells.

This book presents the latest findings in mechanosensitive ion channel research compiled by a number of internationally recognized experts in the field of mechanosensitivity, specializing in mechanosensitive or mechanically gated ion channels and the underlying mechanosensitive signaling cascades. The book provides a comprehensive description of mechanotransduction, which is defined as the biochemical response of cells to mechanical stimulation, and provides the reader with the latest vision of signaling cascades. Descriptions of the most widely used experimental models, the methods of choice and references to experimental protocols, the latest experimental findings and current vision, and potential problems in data interpretation, will be of considerable use to all those interested in this field of research.

This book presents the latest findings in mechanosensitivity of the nervous system. The nervous system stands out from a number of tissues because besides reacting to the mechanical stress it is transmitting its own response to other organs and tissues, which are located downstream of its signaling pathway. For this reason any type of mechanical stimulation of the nervous system, which is capable of triggering a physiological response, has high scientific and practical significance, since it allows its use beyond a particular experimental model anywhere where it is contributing to a particular pathological condition.

This book is a unique collection of reviews outlining the current knowledge and the future developments in this rapidly growing field. Currently, investigations of the effects of mechanical stress on the nervous system are focused on several issues. The majority of studies investigate the effects of mechanical stimulation on mechanosensitive channels, as its primary target and interactive agent, and aim on description of downstream intracellular signaling pathways together with addressing general issues of biomechanics of the nervous system. Knowledge of biomechanics, and mechanisms, which underlie it on organism, organ, tissue and cellular level, is necessary for understanding of the normal functioning of living organisms and allows to predict changes which arise due to alterations of their environment, and possibly will allow to develop new methods of artificial intervention.

The book brings up the problem closer to the experts in related medical and biological sciences as well as practicing doctors besides just presenting the latest achievements in the field.

This book presents the latest findings in the field of investigation of molecular mechanisms of mechanical stretch and the role of cytokines in response of different tissues to it. On the one hand this Volume demonstrates how mechanical stretch enhances cytokines production. It describes how cytokines influence tissues and cells on a background of a mechanical stretching. It provides a description of how cells in different tissues are activated by stretch and cytokines via various signaling pathways, and how they change their gene expression. The book is a unique collection of reviews outlining current knowledge and future developments in this rapidly growing field. Knowledge of biomechanics, and mechanisms which underlie it on molecular, cellular and tissue, is necessary for understanding of the normal functioning of living organisms and allows to predict changes, which arise due to alterations of their environment.

This book presents the latest findings in the field of research of mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction in different cells and tissues. Mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction of the heart and vascular cells, in the lung, in bone and joint tissues, in sensor systems and in blood cells are described in detail. This Volume focuses on molecular mechanisms of mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction via cytoskeleton. Integrin-mediated mechanotransduction, the role of actin cytoskeleton and the role of other cytoskeletal elements are discussed. It contains a detailed description of several stretch-induced signaling cascades with multiple levels of crosstalk between different pathways. It contains a description of the role of nitric oxide in regulation of cardiac activity and in regulation of mechanically gated channels in the heart. In the heart mechanical signals are propagated into the intracellular space primarily via integrin-linked complexes, and are subsequently transmitted from cell to cell via paracrine signaling. Biochemical signals derived from mechanical stimuli activate both acute phosphorylation of signaling cascades, such as in the PI3K, FAK, and ILK pathways, and long-term morphological modii cations via intracellular cytoskeletal reorganization and extracellular matrix remodelling. Cellular and molecular effects of mechanical stretch on vascular cells are also discussed. This Volume highlights the role of mechanotransduction in the lung, in bone and joint tissues. For the first time mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction in blood cells are discussed. It contains new insights into mechanosensitive K+ channels functioning in mouse B lymphocytes. This book is a unique collection of reviews outlining current knowledge and future developments in this rapidly growing field. Currently, investigations of the molecular mechanisms of mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction are focused on several issues. The majority of studies investigate intracellular signaling pathways. Knowledge of the mechanisms which underlie these processes is necessary for understanding of the normal functioning of different organs and tissues and allows to predict changes, which arise due to alterations of their environment. Possibly such knowledge will allow the development of new methods of artificial intervention and therapies. This book brings up the problem closer to the experts in related medical and biological sciences as well as practicing doctors besides just presenting the latest achievements in the field.

Investigation of the mechanisms of cellular response to different mechanical stimuli, as well as mechano-electrical feedback (MEF) in the intact heart is one of the main topics in fundamental and clinical cardiology. The present volume of "Mechanosensitivity in Cells and Tissues: Mechanosensitivity of the Heart" c- bines excellent reviews written by worldwide leaders in this ?eld. The 3rd volume is a great addition to this excellent series of books edited by Andre Kamkin and Irina Kiseleva. This volume successfully combines reviews, aimed at academic, physiology and clinical cardiology communities, devoted to mechanosensitivity of the normal and diseased heart at the ion channel, cell, tissue and organ levels. Kamkin and Kiseleva have made signi?cant contributions to the investigation of mechanosentive ion channels in cardiomyocytes and ?broblasts. Their ba- ground, in addition to extensive collaborations helped them to ?nd and consolidate valuable research ?ndings from prominent specialists in the ?eld of cardiac mechanosensitivity. In the last decade, interest in the role of MEF in the heart has increased sign- cantly. MEF within cardiac tissue is a complex phenomenon in which electroph- iological changes are triggered by myocardial stretch. This phenomenon has been studiedintheclinicalcommunityforoveracenturyandmayhavebothpro-rhythmic and arrhythmogenic consequences. While signi?cant advances have been made in understanding of the effects of mechanical forces on cardiac cells, many questions remain regarding the mechanisms whereby mechanical forces are transduced into changes which alter the behavior of various cardiac cells.

This book explores the latest data dealing with mechanosensitive channels research results. It was compiled by a group of internationally recognized scientists leading in the field of mechanosensitive ion channels or mechanically gated channels and signaling cascades research. Key problems of cell mechanobiology are also discussed. As a whole, the volume dwells on the major issues of mechanical stress influencing the ion channels and intracellular signaling pathways.

This book presented the latest findings in mechanosensitivity of the nervous system. Nervous system stands out from a number of tissues because besides reacting to the mechanical stress it is transmitting its own response to other organs and tissues, which are located down stream of its signaling pathway. For this reason any type of mechanical stimulation of nervous system, which is capable of triggering a physiological response, has high scientific and practical significance, since it allows its use beyond a particular experimental model anywhere where it is contributing to a particular pathological condition.

This book is a unique collection of reviews outlining the current knowledge and the future developments in this rapidly growing field. Currently, investigations of the effects of mechanical stress on nervous system are focused on several issues. The majority of studies investigate the effects of mechanical stimulation on mechanosensitive channels, as its primary target and interactive agent, and aim on description of downstream intracellular signaling pathways together with addressing general issues of biomechanics of the nervous system. Knowledge of biomechanics, and mechanisms, which underlie it on organism, organ, tissue and cellular level, is necessary for understanding of the normal functioning of living organisms and allows to predict changes, which arise due to alterations of their environment, and possibly will allow to develop new methods of artificial intervention.

The book brings up the problem closer to the experts in related medical and biological sciences as well as practicing doctors besides just presenting the latest achievements in the field.