Issue 3, 2022

Comment on “Tensional homeostasis at different length scales” by D. Stamenović and M. L. Smith, Soft Matter, 2021, 17, 10274–10285, DOI: 10.1039/D0SM01911A

Abstract

Many cell-types that reside within load bearing tissues appear to exhibit mechanical homeostasis, that is, a tendency to regulate particular mechanical quantities near a preferred value, often called a set-point. It is suggested here that assessing potential mechanical homeostasis requires careful attention to derivations and definitions, that is, appropriate solutions to the initial-boundary value problems that define the biophysical situation of interest and appropriate definitions of what is meant by homeostasis. Noting that this term was coined carefully, with homeo meaning “similar to” in contrast to homo meaning “the same as”, one must be careful not only to identify the key mechano-regulated quantity (e.g., a stress rather than a flow or a force) but also the tolerance that defines the range of regulation, noting too that the specific target value of that variable may differ from region to region within the body while yet being regulated locally. Herein, we present a few examples to highlight specific derivations and definitions of importance when studying mechanical homeostasis across scales.

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Comment
Submitted
07 Aug 2021
Accepted
16 Dec 2021
First published
05 Jan 2022

Soft Matter, 2022,18, 675-679

Comment on “Tensional homeostasis at different length scales” by D. Stamenović and M. L. Smith, Soft Matter, 2021, 17, 10274–10285, DOI: 10.1039/D0SM01911A

J. D. Humphrey and C. J. Cyron, Soft Matter, 2022, 18, 675 DOI: 10.1039/D1SM01151K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements