Mechanosensitivity of Pancreatic β-cells, Adipocytes, and Skeletal Muscle Cells: The Therapeutic Targets of Metabolic Syndrome

Mechanotransduction is the molecular and cellular processes that transduce mechanical/physical forces into biochemical signals followed by diverse intracellular signalings and cell responses. The cardiovascular system is known to be particularly sensitive to mechanical stimuli such as blood pressure and blood flow. Interestingly, pancreatic β-cells, adipocytes, and skeletal muscle cells, all of which are related to the core concerns in metabolic syndrome causing cardiovascular diseases, are also responsive to mechanical stimuli, such as osmotic change and stretching, and show a variety of functions, including insulin release from β-cells, depression of adipocyte differentiation, and translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle cells. Furthermore, the fish-oil-derived ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) combined with cyclic stretching significantly reduces the adipocyte differentiation. The present article is enable to unitarily discuss three peripheral organs from the viewpoint of mechanosensitivity, which aids in recognizing the importance of biomechanical factors in physiological and pathological conditions, and may potentially have therapeutic consequences.