How Does the Microenvironment Influence Cell Behavior?

The cellular microenvironment exerts a profound influence on cell behavior through various mechanisms:

Signal Transduction: Soluble factors and ECM components can bind to cell surface receptors, initiating signal transduction pathways that alter gene expression and cellular activities.
Mechanotransduction: Mechanical forces are converted into biochemical signals through mechanotransduction. This process involves the cytoskeleton and focal adhesion complexes, influencing cell fate and function.
Epigenetic Modifications: The microenvironment can induce epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, which can stably alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence.