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PIEZO Force Sensors and the Heart.
Anna McGrane1, Michael Murray1, Fiona Bartoli1
1Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|July 28, 2025
Summary
PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 channels are crucial for mechanical sensing in the heart, aiding development and function. Upregulation during cardiac stress suggests PIEZO modulation as a therapeutic target for heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 are calcium-permeable cation channels essential for cellular mechanosensation.
- These channels play vital roles in cardiovascular development, including aortic valve formation and vascular development.
- PIEZOs are involved in physiological processes like baroreceptor pressure sensing and heart rate regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on the role of PIEZO channels in cardiac development and function.
- To explore the involvement of PIEZOs in cardiac pathophysiology and disease.
- To discuss the potential of PIEZO modulation as a therapeutic strategy for heart conditions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific studies on PIEZO channels in the heart.
- Analysis of research on PIEZO function in normal cardiac physiology.
- Examination of studies investigating PIEZO expression and function in cardiac disease models.
Main Results:
- PIEZOs are critical for forming heart structures like the aortic valve and cardiac vasculature.
- In the mature heart, PIEZOs mediate pressure sensing and influence cardiac myocyte and fibroblast function.
- Studies indicate PIEZO channels are upregulated in response to cardiac stress and injury in animal models.
Conclusions:
- Mechanical force sensing by PIEZO channels is fundamental to normal cardiac development and function.
- Altered PIEZO expression in cardiac disease suggests their involvement in disease progression.
- Targeting PIEZO channels offers a promising new avenue for therapeutic interventions in cardiovascular diseases.
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