The extracellular matrix mechanical properties regulate processes in development, cancer, and fibrosis. Among the distinct mechanical properties, the vast majority of research has focused on the extracellular matrix's elasticity as the primary determinant of cell and tissue behavior. However, both cells and the extracellular matrix are not only elastic but also viscous. Despite viscoelasticity being a universal feature of living tissues, our knowledge of the influence of the extracellular matrix's viscoelasticity in cell behavior is limited. This mini-review describes some of the recent findings that have highlighted the role of the extracellular matrix's viscoelasticity in cell and tissue dynamics.

细胞外基质机械特性调节发育、癌症和纤维化过程。在不同的机械特性中，绝大多数研究都集中在细胞外基质的弹性作为细胞和组织行为的主要决定因素上。然而，细胞和细胞外基质不仅具有弹性，而且具有粘性。尽管粘弹性是活组织的普遍特征，但我们对细胞外基质粘弹性对细胞行为的影响的了解是有限的。这篇小型综述描述了一些最近的发现，这些发现强调了细胞外基质的粘弹性在细胞和组织动力学中的作用。