TY - JOUR
T1 - Can repetitive mechanical motion cause structural damage to axons?
AU - Coppini, Allegra
AU - Falconieri, Alessandro
AU - Mualem, Oz
AU - Nasrin, Syeda Rubaiya
AU - Roudon, Marine
AU - Saper, Gadiel
AU - Hess, Henry
AU - Kakugo, Akira
AU - Raffa, Vittoria
AU - Shefi, Orit
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 Coppini, Falconieri, Mualem, Nasrin, Roudon, Saper, Hess, Kakugo, Raffa and Shefi.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Biological structures have evolved to very efficiently generate, transmit, and withstand mechanical forces. These biological examples have inspired mechanical engineers for centuries and led to the development of critical insights and concepts. However, progress in mechanical engineering also raises new questions about biological structures. The past decades have seen the increasing study of failure of engineered structures due to repetitive loading, and its origin in processes such as materials fatigue. Repetitive loading is also experienced by some neurons, for example in the peripheral nervous system. This perspective, after briefly introducing the engineering concept of mechanical fatigue, aims to discuss the potential effects based on our knowledge of cellular responses to mechanical stresses. A particular focus of our discussion are the effects of mechanical stress on axons and their cytoskeletal structures. Furthermore, we highlight the difficulty of imaging these structures and the promise of new microscopy techniques. The identification of repair mechanisms and paradigms underlying long-term stability is an exciting and emerging topic in biology as well as a potential source of inspiration for engineers.
AB - Biological structures have evolved to very efficiently generate, transmit, and withstand mechanical forces. These biological examples have inspired mechanical engineers for centuries and led to the development of critical insights and concepts. However, progress in mechanical engineering also raises new questions about biological structures. The past decades have seen the increasing study of failure of engineered structures due to repetitive loading, and its origin in processes such as materials fatigue. Repetitive loading is also experienced by some neurons, for example in the peripheral nervous system. This perspective, after briefly introducing the engineering concept of mechanical fatigue, aims to discuss the potential effects based on our knowledge of cellular responses to mechanical stresses. A particular focus of our discussion are the effects of mechanical stress on axons and their cytoskeletal structures. Furthermore, we highlight the difficulty of imaging these structures and the promise of new microscopy techniques. The identification of repair mechanisms and paradigms underlying long-term stability is an exciting and emerging topic in biology as well as a potential source of inspiration for engineers.
KW - axon
KW - cytoskeleton
KW - mechanical fatigue
KW - mechanobiology
KW - neuron
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85196522975&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1371738
DO - 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1371738
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C2 - 38912175
AN - SCOPUS:85196522975
SN - 1662-5099
VL - 17
JO - Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
JF - Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
M1 - 1371738
ER -