Cells sense a variety of different mechanochemical stimuli and promptly react to such signals by reshaping their morphology and adapting their structural organization and tensional state. Cell reactions to mechanical stimuli arising from the local microenvironment, mechanotransduction, play a crucial role in many cellular functions in both physiological and pathological conditions. To decipher this complex process, several studies have been undertaken to develop engineered materials and devices as tools to properly control cell mechanical state and evaluate cellular responses. Recent reports highlight how the nucleus serves as an important mechanosensor organelle and governs cell mechanoresponse. In this review, we will introduce the basic mechanisms linking cytoskeleton organization to the nucleus and how this reacts to mechanical properties of the cell microenvironment. We will also discuss how perturbations of nucleus–cytoskeleton connections, affecting mechanotransduction, influence health and disease. Moreover, we will present some of the main technological tools used to characterize and perturb the nuclear mechanical state.

中文翻译：

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定制细胞功能：细胞核在力传导中的贡献


细胞感知各种不同的机械化学刺激，并通过重塑其形态并调整其结构组织和张力状态来迅速对这些信号做出反应。细胞对局部微环境产生的机械刺激的反应，即机械转导，在生理和病理条件下的许多细胞功能中发挥着至关重要的作用。为了破译这个复杂的过程，已经进行了多项研究来开发工程材料和设备作为正确控制细胞机械状态和评估细胞反应的工具。最近的报告强调了细胞核如何作为重要的机械传感器细胞器并控制细胞机械反应。在这篇综述中，我们将介绍连接细胞骨架组织与细胞核的基本机制，以及它如何对细胞微环境的机械特性做出反应。我们还将讨论核-细胞骨架连接的扰动如何影响力转导、影响健康和疾病。此外，我们将介绍一些用于表征和扰动核机械状态的主要技术工具。