Foreword by Maik Gollasch -- Editorial, Andre Kamkin and Ilya Lozinsky -- Contributors -- 1 Force from lipids:  A multidisciplinary approach to study bacterial mechanosensitive ion channels, Charles G. Cranfield et al -- 2 Mechanosensitive K2P channels, TREKking through the autonomic nervous system,.J. Antonio Lamas -- 3 TRPV1 in cell signaling: molecular mechanisms of function and modulation, Andrés Jara-Oseguera and Tamara Rosenbaum -- 4 The Molecular Mechanism of Multifunctional Mechano-Gated Channel TRPV4, Makoto Suzuki and Astuko Mizuno -- 5 Mechanical stretch and intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels in arterial smooth muscle cells, Yasunobu Hayabuchi et al -- 6 Sensing mechanism of stretch activated ion channels, Naomi Niisato and Yoshinori Marunaka -- 7 Ion channels in cardiac fibroblasts: Link to mechanically gated channels and their regulation, Denis V. Abramochkin, Ilya Lozinsky, and Andre Kamkin -- 8 The role of nitric oxide in the regulation of ion channels in the cardiomyocytes: Link to mechanically gated channels, Ekaterina Yu. Makarenko, Ilya Lozinsky, Andre Kamkin -- 9 The Role of Ion Channels in Cellular Mechanotransduction of Hydrostatic Pressure, Kevin D. Champaigne and Jiro Nagatomi -- 10 Lipid-mediated mechanisms involved in the mechanical activation of TRPC6 and TRPV4 channels in the vascular tone regulation, Ryuji Inoue et al -- 11 Stretch effects on atrial conduction: a potential contributor to arrhythmogenesis, Michela Masè and Flavia Ravelli -- 12 Early activation of intracellular signals after myocardial stretch, Horacio E. Cingolani et al -- 13 Recent aspects of angiotensin II action in the heart. Implications for myocardial ischemia and heart failure, Walmor C De Mello -- 14 Mechanosensitivity of pancreatic β-cells, adipocytes, and skeletal muscle cells: the therapeutic targets of metabolic syndrome, Koichi Nakayama et al -- 15 The role of the primary cilium in chondrocyte response to mechanical loading, Angus KT Wann, CL Thompson, and Martin M Knight -- Index.

The volume dwells on the major issues of mechanical stress influencing the ion channels and intracellular signaling pathways. This book is a unique collection of reviews outlining current knowledge and future developments in this rapidly growing field. In our opinion the book presents not only the latest achievements in the field but also brings the problem closer to the experts in related medical and biological sciences as well as practicing doctors. Knowledge of the mechanisms which underlie these processes is necessary for understanding of the normal functioning of different living organs and tissues and allows to predict changes, which arise due to alterations of their environment, and possibly will allow to develop new methods of artificial intervention. We also hope that presenting the problem will attract more attention to it both from researchers and practitioners and will assist to efficiently introduce it into the practical medicine.