TY - JOUR
T1 - The Mechanobiology of Aging
AU - Phillip, Jude M.
AU - Aifuwa, Ivie
AU - Walston, Jeremy
AU - Wirtz, Denis
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/12/7
Y1 - 2015/12/7
N2 - Aging is a complex, multifaceted process that induces a myriad of physiological changes over an extended period of time. Aging is accompanied by major biochemical and biomechanical changes at macroscopic and microscopic length scales that affect not only tissues and organs but also cells and subcellular organelles. These changes include transcriptional and epigenetic modifications; changes in energy production within mitochondria; and alterations in the overall mechanics of cells, their nuclei, and their surrounding extracellular matrix. In addition, aging influences the ability of cells to sense changes in extracellular-matrix compliance (mechanosensation) and to transduce these changes into biochemical signals (mechanotransduction). Moreover, following a complex positive-feedback loop, aging is accompanied by changes in the composition and structure of the extracellular matrix, resulting in changes in the mechanics of connective tissues in older individuals. Consequently, these progressive dysfunctions facilitate many human pathologies and deficits that are associated with aging, including cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neurodegenerative disorders and diseases. Here, we critically review recent work highlighting some of the primary biophysical changes occurring in cells and tissues that accompany the aging process.
AB - Aging is a complex, multifaceted process that induces a myriad of physiological changes over an extended period of time. Aging is accompanied by major biochemical and biomechanical changes at macroscopic and microscopic length scales that affect not only tissues and organs but also cells and subcellular organelles. These changes include transcriptional and epigenetic modifications; changes in energy production within mitochondria; and alterations in the overall mechanics of cells, their nuclei, and their surrounding extracellular matrix. In addition, aging influences the ability of cells to sense changes in extracellular-matrix compliance (mechanosensation) and to transduce these changes into biochemical signals (mechanotransduction). Moreover, following a complex positive-feedback loop, aging is accompanied by changes in the composition and structure of the extracellular matrix, resulting in changes in the mechanics of connective tissues in older individuals. Consequently, these progressive dysfunctions facilitate many human pathologies and deficits that are associated with aging, including cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neurodegenerative disorders and diseases. Here, we critically review recent work highlighting some of the primary biophysical changes occurring in cells and tissues that accompany the aging process.
KW - Cellular mechanics
KW - Extracellular matrix
KW - Mitochondrial dysfunction
KW - Nuclear mechanics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84949506906&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84949506906&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-071114-040829
DO - 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-071114-040829
M3 - Review article
C2 - 26643020
AN - SCOPUS:84949506906
SN - 1523-9829
VL - 17
SP - 113
EP - 141
JO - Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering
JF - Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering
ER -