Hormesis and Mechanical Stress Tolerance in Human U2OS Cells

This project explores how human cells survive and adapt to extreme mechanical stress. Its purpose is to define the limits of cellular survival and determine whether prior exposure to low-level stress can either enhance resilience or be detrimental to cellular survival. The project will examine how cells respond to increasing mechanical force and whether repeated exposure leads to improved survival, suggesting adaptive or heritable changes. It also investigates whether mechanical stress can produce a hormetic effect, where mild stress strengthens cells against future damage. The expected conclusions are that cells exhibit measurable survival thresholds and may develop increased tolerance through prior stress exposure. Ultimately, this project aims to deepen understanding of cellular decision-making under stress and reveal mechanisms of resilience relevant to tissue health, disease, and extreme environments.