Piezo Channels: Awesome Mechanosensitive Structures in Cellular Mechanotransduction and Their Role in Bone

Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jun 16;22(12):6429. doi: 10.3390/ijms22126429.

Abstract

Piezo channels are mechanosensitive ion channels located in the cell membrane and function as key cellular mechanotransducers for converting mechanical stimuli into electrochemical signals. Emerged as key molecular detectors of mechanical forces, Piezo channels' functions in bone have attracted more and more attention. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of Piezo channels and review the research advances of Piezo channels' function in bone by highlighting Piezo1's role in bone cells, including osteocyte, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC), osteoblast, osteoclast, and chondrocyte. Moreover, the role of Piezo channels in bone diseases is summarized.

Keywords: Piezo channels; bone cells; bone disease; mechanotransduction.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Diseases
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism*
  • Chondrocytes / metabolism
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Humans
  • Ion Channel Gating / drug effects
  • Ion Channels / agonists
  • Ion Channels / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ion Channels / chemistry
  • Ion Channels / physiology*
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism
  • Osteocytes / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Ion Channels
  • PIEZO1 protein, human
  • PIEZO2 protein, human