Fig. 4

Mechanosensors and mechanotransduction of HSC. The drawing schematically depicts the mechanosensory units and molecules and highlights the molecules downstream of integrin that are expressed by HSPCs and/or play a role in HSPC biology. Biomechanical inputs from external loads directly stimulate mechanosensors such as mechanically gated ion channels, adhesion receptor-ligand bonds, cytoskeleton, and primary cilia. Intrinsic forces are generated under environmental mechanical constraints, and then transmit to neighboring cells through junctional interfaces, and consequently elicit cellular mechanoresponses. Besides, intrinsic forces can directly pass on to the nucleus through lamin A/C (LMNA), affecting chromatin structure and thereby controlling epigenetic processes. Biomechanical cues cooperate with biochemical signals in mechanotransduction