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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Real-Time Void Spot Assay
06:39

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Published on: February 10, 2023

PIEZO1-mediated mechanosensation links aging to bladder dysfunction.

Yasmeen M F Hamed1,2, Vikram Joshi3,4, Kevin Wilhelm1,5

  • 1Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|June 5, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Aging impairs bladder function, but PIEZO1 ion channels in smooth muscle play a key role. Targeting these mechanosensors with margaric acid may treat urinary dysfunction in older adults.

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Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Gerontology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Aging significantly alters bladder function, causing urinary frequency and incontinence.
  • Mechanosensory feedback is crucial for bladder control, but its age-related changes are not well understood.
  • PIEZO ion channels are vital for sensing bladder fullness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of smooth muscle PIEZO1 channels in age-related bladder dysfunction.
  • To explore margaric acid as a potential therapeutic agent for urinary issues.
  • To examine the link between PIEZO1 variants and bladder dysfunction in humans.

Main Methods:

  • Inducible smooth-muscle specific Piezo1 deletion in mice.
  • Dietary administration of margaric acid to aged mice.
  • Genotype-phenotype analysis in human subjects.

Main Results:

  • Loss of Piezo1 in smooth muscle ameliorated age-related bladder dysfunction.
  • Margaric acid treatment reduced urinary dysfunction in aged mice.
  • A PIEZO1 gain-of-function variant was associated with early-onset neuromuscular bladder dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • Smooth muscle PIEZO1 channels mediate age-related bladder dysfunction.
  • Targeting PIEZO channels with margaric acid offers a potential therapeutic strategy.
  • PIEZO1 plays a significant role in bladder mechanosensation and dysfunction across the lifespan.