Liver cell hydration and integrin signaling

Liver cell hydration (cell volume) is dynamic and can change within minutes under theinfluence of hormones, nutrients, and oxidative stress. Such volume changes were identified asa novel and important modulator of cell function. It provides an early example for theinteraction between a physical parameter (cell volume) on the one hand and metabolism,transport, and gene expression on the other. Such events involve mechanotransduction(osmosensing) which triggers signaling cascades towards liver function (osmosignaling). Thisarticle reviews our own work on this topic with emphasis on the role of β1 integrins as(osmo-)mechanosensors in the liver, but also on their role in bile acid signaling