Mechanotransduction Channels of the Trabecular Meshwork

Purpose: To determine whether the trabecular meshwork (TM), like the other organs engaged in filter like activities (such as kidneys), show the expression of known mechanotransduction channels at protein level. Methods: Human donor eye globes (n = 20), Donor eye derived TM tissue and primary TM cells were utilized for these studies. Commercially available antibodies to channels, immunohisto- and immunocytochemistry, Western blot and mass spectrometric analyses were performed to determine the presence of mechanosensitive channels at protein level. The study was performed adhering to tenets of declaration of Helsinki. Results: We demonstrate here the presence of 11 mechanotransduction channels (Piezo1, Piezo2, TASK1, TREK1, TRPA1, TRPC1, TRPC2, TRPC3, TRPC6, TRPM2, TRPP2) as expressed protein in the TM tissue and at the isolated TM cell level. Presence of at least one known isoform of these channels was demonstrated using Western blot analyses. Conclusions: We demonstrated the presence of 11 mechanotransduction channels in the TM and in isolated TM cells at protein level. Demonstration of these channels as proteins at tissue and cellular level will pave the way for further experimentation.