Piezo1 induces Wnt7b⁺ astrocytes transformation to modulate glial scar stiffness and neuro-regeneration after stroke.

ABSTRACT: Background: Reactive astrocytes form a chemical and mechanical glial scar that inhibits neuro-regeneration after stroke. Astrocyte heterogeneity is accompanied by changes in morphology and mechanical properties altering during scar formation after injury. This work aimed to elucidate the relationship between glial scar stiffness and astrocyte subtype transformation. Methods: Astrocyte-specific archaerhodopsin-3 and channelrhodopsin-2 knock-in C57BL/6J mice underwent distal MCAO. Atomic force microscopy, ultrasound elastography and synchrotron radiation were used to determine changes in glial scar stiffness. A proteomic analysis of astrocyte subtypes was performed ex vitro using single-cell laser capture microdissection-MS. Furthermore, optogenetics was employed in v

SUBMITTER: Wu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12674932 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature