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Updated: May 9, 2026

Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli
Published on: June 27, 2015
[Effect of Pinch-3 gene interference of glomerular podocytes on cell morphology and cell traction force]
Yu Yang1, Qingyuan Niu, Zhenling Ji
1Biological and Environmental Engineering School of Shenyang University, Shenyang 110044, China.
Abstract:
Pinch-3 protein is an important constituent of cell membranes, which directly affects the cell morphology and mechanical properties. We observed and compared the change of morphology and cell traction force of glomerular podocytes before and after Pinch-3 gene inhibition by gene interference technology in this experiment. We found that a number of pores appeared on the cell surface, and the cell projected area were increased at the same time, with an approximate average about an increase of 40% after Pinch-3 gene inhibition. The results showed that the cell traction force of glomerular podocytes was significantly reduced, with an approximate average decrease of 40%, the maximum value of the cell traction force was reduced and the distribution of cell traction force became dispersive. All this suggested that after Pinch-3 gene inhibition, some pores created on the cell surface influenced the physical properties of glomerular podocytes and then affected the cell projected area and influenced the formation and distribution of cell traction force of the glomerular podocytes as well.
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