Invited Review

Paradigms for Mechanical Signal Transduction in the Intestinal Epithelium
Category: Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
Marc D. Basson

Departments of Surgery, Wayne State University and John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Mich., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Digestion 2003;68:217-225 (DOI: 10.1159/000076385)

  Key Words

• Physical forces
• Caco-2 cells
• Intestinal mucosa, mechanical and physical forces
• Small intestine, rat
• Villous motility
• Intestinal mucosa during normal gut function
• Intestinal epithelial proliferation
• Signaling pathways
• Mechanical force effects upon epithelium

  Abstract

Diverse physical forces including deformation or strain, pressure, and shear stress affect the intestinal mucosa during normal function, and mucosal biology is altered in pathological states in which these forces alter. Taken together with evidence in other tissues and cell types that physical forces can affect cell biology, this has led to the hypothesis that repetitively applied physical forces can initiate intracellular signals that alter intestinal epithelial proliferation and phenotype. This review outlines the nature of such forces and summarizes in vivo and in vitro evidence in support of the paradigm that repetitive force is trophic for the intestinal mucosa via a complex cascade of intracellular signals.

Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Marc Basson, Chief, Surgical Service
John D. Dingell VA Medical Center
4646 John R. Street
Detroit, MI 48201-1932 (USA)
Tel. +1 313 576 3598, Fax +1 313 576 1002, E-Mail marc.basson@med.va.gov

  Article Information

Published online: January 21, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 95