Mechanosensory Structures in the Mechanotransduction System of Muscle Fibers

Abstract

The ability of skeletal muscles to sense mechanical stimuli and respond to them by changing intracellular electrochemical and biochemical processes (mechanotransduction) is of crucial importance for the regulation of physiological processes in muscle fibers. This review describes the main sarcolemmal, sarcomeric, and cytoskeletal mechanosensitive structures and analyzes mechano-dependent signaling pathways and mechanisms involved in the regulation of gene expression as well as muscle protein synthesis and degradation. The final part of the review formulates specific questions in the field of muscle mechanotransduction that need to be addressed in future studies. Understanding of skeletal muscle mechanotransduction is necessary for the development of effective measures aimed at the treatment of muscular dystrophies, sarcopenia, and prevention of disuse-induced muscle atrophy.