About this Research Topic

Background

Humans are subjected to continuous exposure to the effects of gravitational force and it is well documented and demonstrated, in particularly in astronauts, that gravity plays a pivotal role in maintaining physiological function. During space flight, astronauts are exposed to a prolonged state of microgravity and develop a myriad of physiological disruptions including a loss of muscle mass and bone density, impaired vision, decreased kidney function, diminished neurological responses, and a compromised immune system. The effects of microgravity on the human physiology is also similar to different disease found on Earth and the understanding the underlying mechanotransduction mechanism at the cellular level will have impact both for space exploration and terrestrial diseases. What is currently unclear is which pathophysiological disruptions reflect changes at the cellular level versus changes that occur due to the impact of weightlessness on the entire body. Despite recent advances in understanding the relationship between extracellular forces and cell behavior, very little is understood about cellular biology and mechanotransduction under microgravity conditions. These studies are not only important for understanding how humans are affected by microgravity but have the potential to elucidate the role of mechanical stimuli on cellular function and the development of mechanically driven disease states.

This Research Topic focuses on current research investigating the impact of microgravity at the cellular level including cellular function, mechanism, and response. We aim to gather recent advancement into the impact of microgravity on cell biology and how this area of research can provide new insights into advancing our understanding of mechanically driven biology and disease.

We welcome biologists, chemists, physicists, and mathematician to contribute to this collection. Also, we particularly welcome participants of the 2nd Australian Space Biology Symposium to contribute.

Preferred topics include, but are not limited to:
• Mechanobiology at the molecular/cellular/tissue scale.
• Innovative tools and paradigm for analysis of cellular mechanics.
• Evaluation and investigation of mechano-signaling pathways in cell mechanotransduction.
• Mechanotransduction in cell fate/ function, tissue homeostasis and immune response.
• Mechanobiology of cellular and developmental biological process related to cancer, ocular, neurological, immunity, bone, muscles.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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