# Role of mechanically activated ion channels in somatosensation

> **NIH NIH R01** · SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE · 2020 · $481,250

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Somatosensory neurons that innervate the skin and muscle play an essential role in sensing
touch, pain, and proprioception. The same type of sensory neurons innervates other organs that
experience frequent mechanical stimulation. This list of such organs/tissues includes bone,
teeth, lung, vasculature, stomach, and bladder. Anatomically, cranial ganglia (including
trigeminal) innervate the head, while nodose/jugular and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) innervate
the rest of the body. The role of the mechanically activated (MA) non-selective cation channel
Piezo2 in DRGs for sensing touch and proprioception is well established. However, much less is
known about the role of Piezo2 (and mechanotransduction in general) in other sensory ganglia
that innervate the craniofacial region and other internal organs. For example, repetitive and
wide-ranging mechanical forces are experienced by our respiratory system. Lung stretch is
sensed by neurons with their cell bodies in the nodose/jugular, trigeminal, and thoracic DRGs.
Mechanically-driven reflexes are thought to be crucial for proper lung function; however, the
precise physiological significance and molecular mechanism of mechanotransduction within the
lung remains obscure. In preliminary data presented in this proposal, we show that Piezo2 is
expressed in neurons innervating the airways. We further show that global and sensory neuronspecific
ablation of Piezo2 causes symptoms of respiratory distress. Building on the preliminary
data presented here, we will investigate the role of Piezo2 in respiration and in various
craniofacial tissues.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982299
- **Project number:** 5R01DE022358-10
- **Recipient organization:** SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** Ardem Patapoutian
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $481,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-07-12 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982299

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982299, Role of mechanically activated ion channels in somatosensation (5R01DE022358-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982299. Licensed CC0.

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