Cell stiffness is an important characteristic of cells and their response to external stimuli. In this review, we survey methods used to measure cell stiffness, summarize stimuli that alter cell stiffness, and discuss signaling pathways and mechanisms that control cell stiffness. Several pathological states are characterized by changes in cell stiffness, suggesting this property can serve as a potential diagnostic marker or therapeutic target. Therefore, we consider the effect of cell stiffness on signaling and growth processes required for homeostasis and dysfunction in healthy and pathological states. Specifically, the composition and structure of the cell membrane and cytoskeleton are major determinants of cell stiffness, and studies have identified signaling pathways that affect cytoskeletal dynamics both directly and by altered gene expression. We present the results of studies interrogating the effects of biophysical and biochemical stimuli on the cytoskeleton and other cellular components and how these factors determine the stiffness of both individual cells and multicellular structures. Overall, these studies represent an intersection of the fields of polymer physics, protein biochemistry, and mechanics, and identify specific mechanisms involved in mediating cell stiffness that can serve as therapeutic targets.

中文翻译：

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细胞如何变硬？

细胞刚度是细胞及其对外部刺激反应的重要特征。在这篇综述中，我们调查了用于测量细胞硬度的方法，总结了改变细胞硬度的刺激，并讨论了控制细胞硬度的信号通路和机制。几种病理状态的特征是细胞硬度的变化，表明这种特性可以作为潜在的诊断标志物或治疗靶点。因此，我们考虑了细胞刚度对健康和病理状态下稳态和功能障碍所需的信号传导和生长过程的影响。具体来说，细胞膜和细胞骨架的组成和结构是细胞硬度的主要决定因素，并且研究已经确定了直接和通过改变基因表达影响细胞骨架动力学的信号通路。我们展示了研究生物物理和生化刺激对细胞骨架和其他细胞成分的影响的研究结果，以及这些因素如何决定单个细胞和多细胞结构的刚度。总体而言，这些研究代表了聚合物物理学、蛋白质生物化学和力学领域的交叉，并确定了可作为治疗靶点的介导细胞刚度的特定机制。