Our results show, for the first time, that the cytoskeleton network
contributes directly to osmosensing and passive cell volume adjustments
in anisosmotic media via the modulation of the water that is
bound/retained by the cytoplasmic hydrogel. However, the disruption
of hydrogel osmosensing function by cytoskeleton-active compounds
did not abolished RVD in A549 cells, thus implicating alternative/complementary
osmosensory mechanisms of cell volume regulation mediated
by plasma membrane osmolyte transporters.