Prestress in biological systems.Literature review by Jon Trister MD
Prestress in Biological Systems: Function, Maintenance, Deterioration, and Survival
Prestress in biological systems refers to the pre-existing internal mechanical tension or compression within cells and tissues, primarily generated by the cytoskeleton and its interactions with the extracellular matrix. This concept is central to understanding how living organisms maintain structure, function, and adaptability.
Function of Prestress
Structural Integrity and Stiffness:
Prestress, especially cytoskeletal prestress, is crucial for maintaining cell shape, mechanical stability, and stiffness. It allows cells and tissues to resist deformation and maintain their architecture under various physiological conditions[1][2][15].
Mechanotransduction: Prestress enables cells to sense and respond to mechanical cues from their environment. It facilitates the conversion of mechanical signals into biochemical responses, influencing gene expression, protein synthesis, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation[1][2][3].
Development and Function:Prestress is essential during embryonic development, stem cell differentiation, and immune cell activation. It supports processes such as tissue morphogenesis, wound healing, and the dynamic reshaping of tissues during growth or repair[1][3][10].
Tissue-Level Effects: At the tissue scale, prestress coordinates the collective behavior of cells, influencing tissue mechanics, shape, and the formation of specialized structures (e.g., lumens in epithelial tissues)[3][10].
Maintenance of Prestress
Cytoskeletal Dynamics: Prestress is actively maintained by the cytoskeleton, particularly through the actomyosin network (actin filaments and myosin motors), microtubules (which bear compression), and intermediate filaments (which provide stabilization)[3][4][15].
Cell-ECM Interactions: Focal adhesions and integrins link the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix, allowing cells to generate and balance prestress with their environment[1][3].
Active Regulation: Molecular motors (e.g., myosin) consume ATP to generate contractile forces, and cellular signaling pathways adjust prestress in response to environmental changes, such as substrate stiffness or mechanical load[3][4].
Homeostatic Feedback: Cells dynamically adjust prestress through feedback mechanisms, enabling rapid adaptation to mechanical or biochemical stimuli[1][3].
Deterioration of Prestress
Aging and Disease: With aging, the ability to maintain prestress deteriorates due to changes in cytoskeletal composition, loss of proteostasis, and impaired cellular signaling. This leads to decreased tissue stiffness, altered mechanotransduction, and increased susceptibility to injury and disease[7][12].
Mechanical Injury: Physical disruption (e.g., needle insertion, trauma) can break cytoskeletal connections, leading to loss of prestress, tissue deformation, and impaired function[6][11].
Chronic Stress: Prolonged exposure to adverse conditions (oxidative stress, inflammation, metabolic stress) damages cytoskeletal components, disrupts prestress, and accelerates cellular aging and senescence[7][12].
Pathological Remodeling:In diseases such as cancer, abnormal regulation of prestress can promote tumorigenesis, metastasis, and resistance to therapy by altering cell mechanics and signaling pathways[1][2].
Role in Survival
Adaptation to Stress: Prestress enables cells and tissues to withstand and adapt to mechanical and environmental stresses, supporting survival under adverse conditions[8][9][14].
Stress Response Pathways: Cellular signaling networks (e.g., MAP kinase pathways) are activated in response to mechanical or osmotic stress, promoting recovery, repair, and survival[8][14].
Energy Conservation: In extreme environments, some cells enter a dormant state, conserving energy and maintaining minimal prestress to avoid damage and ensure long-term survival until conditions improve[9].
Evolutionary Adaptation: Organisms have evolved mechanisms to regulate prestress, allowing them to thrive in diverse and challenging environments by enhancing resilience and adaptability[14].
In summary: Prestress is a fundamental mechanical property in biological systems, underpinning cellular and tissue integrity, enabling adaptive responses, and influencing survival across the lifespan. Its maintenance is vital for health, while its deterioration contributes to aging and disease[1][2][3][7][12][14].
Sources
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