Mechano-immunological checkpoints: An emerging strategy for investigation and evaluation of disease and therapeutics

Over the past decades, increasing evidence has indicated that multiple mechanical signals with different magnitude and pattern, including fluid flow-derived shear stress, topology of extracellular matrix (ECM), substrate stiffness, tension or compression, are now emerging as important orchestrators of immune response under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Correspondingly, the extrinsic mechanical signals may confer the unique mechanophenotypes on cells, which coupled with their immunophenotypes, determines the ultimate type of immune response. Therefore, the concept of mechano-immunological checkpoints is proposed, which concerns the featured mechanical signals and the typical mechanophenotypes of immune cells, making it possible to elucidate and treat immune-associated disease from the mechanical viewpoint.