MECHANICAL INDUCTION OF BETA-1-INTEGRIN-MEDIATED CALCIUM SIGNALING INA HEPATOCYTE CELL-LINE

Mechanical stress influences growth, differentiation, and gene express ion in a variety of cell types. It is believed that via extracellular matrix the mechanical stimulus is transmitted to integrin receptors wh ich thus play a key role in transducing signals into the cell interior . Here we demonstrate that incubation of suspended hepatocytes with sp ecific antibodies to beta(1)-integrin subunits followed by a short-ter m mechanical stimulation is sufficient to induce a rise in intracellul ar Ca2+. The results indicate that mechanical loading of individual in tegrin subunits activates Ca2+-specific signal pathways. (C) 1995 Acad emic Press, Inc.