Exploring Piezo1, Piezo2, and TMEM150C in Human Brain Tissues and Their Correlation With Brain Biomechanical Characteristics

This study establishes a multiscale framework linking region-specific mechanical properties of human brain tissue to cellular mechanotransduction signaling. Fresh human brain samples from multiple donors were mechanically characterized across white matter, grey–white matter junctions, and the pons. Compression and stress-relaxation testing revealed significant regional and donor-specific differences in stiffness, spring response, and equilibrium stress. These mechanical metrics were strongly correlated with the expression of mechanosensitive ion channels Piezo1, Piezo2, and TMEM150C, as well as downstream YAP/β-catenin signaling. The findings demonstrate that brain mechanotransduction is highly region-dependent and closely coupled to local viscoelastic tissue properties.