摘要
Biomechanical properties are critical in regulating gene expression, protein synthesis, and macromolecule conformation, thus profoundly influencing the migration, proliferation, and apoptosis of cells.1 Applying a force to the contact area of a cell results in stress, which is described as the force per unit contact area, and causes cell deformation. The deformation degree is positively related to the stress. To describe the ability of a cell to resist deformation, the term “stiffness” is commonly used as the ratio of stress to deformation. Cell stiffness is mainly decided by intracellular actin filaments (F-actin) but not by the plasma membrane because the plasma membrane only contributes 1/1000–1/10,000 of the stiffness to the cell.2 Different cell types possess different stiffnesses, which match the corresponding tissue stiffness and allow the cell to properly sense and respond to mechanical cues. Cell stiffness in the human body may range from 0.01 to 12 kPa.
