Fibroblasts respond to mechanical stimuli like; stretch, pressure, traction, and shearing, by

changes in the intracellular calcium, ATP release, signaling path activation, actin polymerization, and
altered gene expression. Fibroblasts will also respond to the above mechanical stimuli with changes in
the extracellular matrix. This change in the extracellular matrix supports the possibility of a whole body-
wide signaling system within the connective tissue that responds to mechanical forces and influences
other physiological systems. The nature of this system of fibroblasts suggests that they may have an
important integrative function of communication to the whole body.