Mechanical force modulates global gene expression and beta-catenin signaling in colon cancer cells.

At various stages during embryogenesis and cancer cells are exposed to tension, compression and shear stress; forces that can regulate cell proliferation and differentiation. In the present study, we show that shear stress blocks cell cycle progression in colon cancer cells and regulates the expression of genes linked to the Wnt/beta-catenin, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NFkappaB pathways. The shear stress-induced increase of the secreted Wnt inhibitor DKK1 requires p38 and activation of NFkappaB requires IkappaB kinase-beta.