Fig. 3.
Piezo-1 is necessary for sensing nanotopography. (A) Representative scanning electron micrograph of PC-12 cells grown on nanorough surface (shown Rq = 40 nm). PC-12 stained using anti-FAM38A, an antibody for Piezo-1 mechanosensitive ion channel on Rq = 3.5 nm (B) and Rq = 32 nm (C). On smooth surfaces, FAM38A staining is pronounced at neurite branch points (denoted by circles) (B), whereas on nanorough surfaces FAM38A staining is uniform along all neurite processes (C). Rat dorsal root ganglia morphology (D and E) and function (F and G) on glass and Rq of 32 nm. Inhibition of FAM38A with GsMTx4 (5 µM) results in decoupling of hippocampal neurons from astrocytes on smooth glass substrates (H and I). The FURA-2 intensity profile (J) and rate of calcium influx (K) in hippocampal neurons upon depolarization with KCl on smooth glass substrate and Rq = 32 nm is identical upon inhibition of FAM38A. Statistical significance: ***P < 0.001.