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Abstract

The ability of cells to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli is crucial for many developmental and homeostatic processes, while mechanical dysfunction of cells has been associated with numerous pathologies including muscular dystrophies, cardiovascular defects, and epithelial disorders. Yet, how cells detect and process mechanical information is still unclear. In this review, we outline major mechanisms underlying cellular mechanotransduction and we summarize the current understanding of how cells integrate information from distinct mechanosensitive structures to mediate complex mechanoresponses. We also discuss the concept of mechanical memory and describe how cells store information on previous mechanical events for different periods of time.