TY - JOUR
T1 - PIEZO1-mediated calcium influx transiently alters nuclear mechanical properties via actin remodeling in chondrocytes
AU - Garcia-Castorena, Jaquelin M.
AU - Riester, Rosa
AU - Gamino-Ornelas, Miranda
AU - Ada, Nikitha
AU - Guilak, Farshid
AU - Danalache, Marina
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2025/1
Y1 - 2025/1
N2 - Mechanosensation allows cells to generate intracellular signals in response to mechanical cues from their environment. Previous research has demonstrated that mechanical stress can alter the mechanical properties of the nucleus, affecting gene transcription, chromatin methylation, and nuclear mechanoprotection during mechanical loading. PIEZO1, a mechanically gated Ca2+ ion channel, has been shown to be important in sensing mechanical stress, however its signal transduction pathway is not thoroughly understood. In this study, we used primary porcine chondrocytes to determine whether PIEZO1 activation and subsequent Ca2+ influx altered nuclear mechanical properties, and whether these effects involved the actin cytoskeleton. We discovered that activating PIEZO1 with Yoda1, a specific small-molecule agonist, induces transient nuclear softening—a previously identified mechanoprotective response. This PIEZO1-mediated nuclear softening is abolished by inhibiting actin cytoskeleton remodeling with Latrunculin A or by removing extracellular Ca2+. Notably, PIEZO1-mediated nuclear softening did not lead to significant changes in gene expression or heterochromatin methylation. Our findings demonstrate that actin cytoskeleton remodeling following Ca2+ influx facilitates PIEZO1 signal transduction to the nucleus but does not induce lasting gene expression changes.
AB - Mechanosensation allows cells to generate intracellular signals in response to mechanical cues from their environment. Previous research has demonstrated that mechanical stress can alter the mechanical properties of the nucleus, affecting gene transcription, chromatin methylation, and nuclear mechanoprotection during mechanical loading. PIEZO1, a mechanically gated Ca2+ ion channel, has been shown to be important in sensing mechanical stress, however its signal transduction pathway is not thoroughly understood. In this study, we used primary porcine chondrocytes to determine whether PIEZO1 activation and subsequent Ca2+ influx altered nuclear mechanical properties, and whether these effects involved the actin cytoskeleton. We discovered that activating PIEZO1 with Yoda1, a specific small-molecule agonist, induces transient nuclear softening—a previously identified mechanoprotective response. This PIEZO1-mediated nuclear softening is abolished by inhibiting actin cytoskeleton remodeling with Latrunculin A or by removing extracellular Ca2+. Notably, PIEZO1-mediated nuclear softening did not lead to significant changes in gene expression or heterochromatin methylation. Our findings demonstrate that actin cytoskeleton remodeling following Ca2+ influx facilitates PIEZO1 signal transduction to the nucleus but does not induce lasting gene expression changes.
KW - Actin cytoskeleton
KW - Mechanobiology
KW - Mechanosensation
KW - Mechanotransduction
KW - Nucleus
KW - Piezo1
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85211377551&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.151135
DO - 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.151135
M3 - Article
C2 - 39667069
AN - SCOPUS:85211377551
SN - 0006-291X
VL - 742
JO - Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
JF - Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
M1 - 151135
ER -