Cell membrane tension in disease and emerging strategies for its regulation and measurement

Cell membrane tension is a fundamental biophysical parameter that governs a wide range of cellular processes, including migration, division, mechanosensitive signaling, and membrane repair. Rather than serving as a passive structural property, membrane tension functions as a dynamic mechanical regulator that integrates cytoskeletal forces, membrane reservoir dynamics, and extracellular mechanical cues to coordinate cell behavior. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying membrane tension regulation, its pathological significance, and the emerging experimental techniques available for its measurement and manipulation. By integrating mechanobiological and disease-oriented perspectives, this review presents a comprehensive framework for understanding how membrane tension is regulated and perturbed in health and disease, and highlights open questions and future directions for the field.