About this Research Topic
Mechanopathology is a recent field that delves into the intricate interplay between mechanical forces and tissue pathology. Traditionally, the mechanical environment of cells and tissues has been overlooked in pathophysiology research. However, it is increasingly recognized that physical stress, as load and strain, as well as deregulation of mechanosensitive proteins and/or altered mechanotransduction processes play pivotal roles in the onset and the progression of several diseases. By understanding how mechanical factors contribute to cellular dysfunction and tissue degeneration, mechanopathology offers a novel perspective on the etiology and the management of various pathological conditions, ranging from musculoskeletal disorders to cardiovascular and oncological diseases.
This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of the mechanical influences on tissue pathology. By integrating biomechanics and cellular/molecular biology, we seek to uncover the fundamental processes by which mechanical forces induce or exacerbate pathological states. The insights gained from this field could lead to novel therapeutic approaches that target the mechanical environment of tissues, offering new avenues for the prevention, recognition and treatment of pathological conditions. By addressing the ways in which mechanical stress affects cellular signaling, tissue integrity, and overall organ function, researchers can develop innovations that not only alleviate symptoms but also modify disease progression at a fundamental level.
We invite submissions that explore various aspects of mechanopathology, including but not limited to:
1. Cellular mechanotransduction pathways: Investigation into how cells sense and respond to mechanical stimuli.
2. Biomechanical properties of diseased tissues: Studies on alterations in tissue stiffness, elasticity, and load-bearing capacity in pathological conditions.
3. Mechanically-induced cellular dysfunction: Research on how mechanical stress leads to cellular injury, apoptosis, or altered metabolic states.
4. Chronic mechanical overload and disease progression: Examination of how repetitive strain and mechanical overload contribute to chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and heart failure.
5. Regenerative medicine and mechanobiology: The use of mechanical stimuli in tissue engineering and regenerative approaches to restore tissue function and integrity.
6. Emerging technologies in mechanopathological research: Utilization of cutting-edge technologies such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), microfluidics, and in vivo imaging to study mechanopathology
7. Computational modeling of mechanosensing: Development of mathematic models to predict cells and/or tissue response to mechanical perturbations.
Please note: studies consisting solely of bioinformatic investigation of publicly available genomic/transcriptomic/proteomic data do not fall within the scope of the section unless they are expanded and provide significant biological or mechanistic insight into the process being studied and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of the mechanical influences on tissue pathology. By integrating biomechanics and cellular/molecular biology, we seek to uncover the fundamental processes by which mechanical forces induce or exacerbate pathological states. The insights gained from this field could lead to novel therapeutic approaches that target the mechanical environment of tissues, offering new avenues for the prevention, recognition and treatment of pathological conditions. By addressing the ways in which mechanical stress affects cellular signaling, tissue integrity, and overall organ function, researchers can develop innovations that not only alleviate symptoms but also modify disease progression at a fundamental level.
We invite submissions that explore various aspects of mechanopathology, including but not limited to:
1. Cellular mechanotransduction pathways: Investigation into how cells sense and respond to mechanical stimuli.
2. Biomechanical properties of diseased tissues: Studies on alterations in tissue stiffness, elasticity, and load-bearing capacity in pathological conditions.
3. Mechanically-induced cellular dysfunction: Research on how mechanical stress leads to cellular injury, apoptosis, or altered metabolic states.
4. Chronic mechanical overload and disease progression: Examination of how repetitive strain and mechanical overload contribute to chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and heart failure.
5. Regenerative medicine and mechanobiology: The use of mechanical stimuli in tissue engineering and regenerative approaches to restore tissue function and integrity.
6. Emerging technologies in mechanopathological research: Utilization of cutting-edge technologies such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), microfluidics, and in vivo imaging to study mechanopathology
7. Computational modeling of mechanosensing: Development of mathematic models to predict cells and/or tissue response to mechanical perturbations.
Please note: studies consisting solely of bioinformatic investigation of publicly available genomic/transcriptomic/proteomic data do not fall within the scope of the section unless they are expanded and provide significant biological or mechanistic insight into the process being studied and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
Keywords: mechanotransduction, biomechanics, mechanical stress, cellular dysfunction, mechanosensitive proteins, mechanobiology, mechanopathology, computational modelling, metrological characterizatoin
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.
