The Role and Regulatory Mechanisms of Cell Volume in Mechanochemical Coupling
LI Longjie, LUO Run, DENG Jie, QIN Weiran, XIE Jing*
Cell volume, as a critical physical parameter in multicellular living systems, maintains cellular homeostasis and function through the dynamic changes. During the cellular mechanotransduction, cell volume modulated by the external cues from the extracellular fluid and extracellular matrix will influence mechanoresponses through mechano-chemical coupling mechanisms involving membrane tension, macromolecular crowding, and intracellular phase separation. This review will systematically elucidate the dynamic characteristics of cell volume under physiological and pathological conditions, with a particular focus on how mechanical signals influence volume and how volume remodeling regulates mechanoresponses. It highlights the significant roles of cell volume in activating mechanosensitive ion channels, reorganizing the cytoskeleton, and biomolecular condensates formation. Furthermore, the potential applications of targeting volume regulation in cancer therapy will be discussed. By sum- marizing the mechanical regulatory mechanisms of cell volume remodeling, this review emphasizes the importance of volume changes in mechanochemical coupling, providing a novel perspective for mechanobiology.
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