The cellular and molecular response of cardiac myocytes to mechanical stress

Annu Rev Physiol. 1997:59:551-71. doi: 10.1146/annurev.physiol.59.1.551.

Abstract

External load plays a critical role in determining muscle mass and its phenotype in cardiac myocytes. Cardiac myocytes have the ability to sense mechanical stretch and convert it into intracellular growth signals, which lead to hypertrophy. Mechanical stretch of cardiac myocytes in vitro causes activation of multiple second messenger systems that are very similar to growth factor-induced cell signaling systems. Stretch of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes stimulates a rapid secretion of angiotensin II which, together with other growth factors, mediates stretch-induced hypertrophic responses in vitro. In this review, various cell signaling mechanisms initiated by mechanical stress on cardiac myocytes are summarized with emphasis on potential mechanosensing mechanisms and the relationship between mechanical loading and the cardiac renin-angiotensin system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiomegaly / etiology*
  • Growth Substances / physiology
  • Humans
  • Mechanoreceptors / physiology
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stress, Mechanical

Substances

  • Growth Substances