Piezo1 protein is a family member of mixed cationic, non selective, directly mechanically activated ion channels found in higher eukaryotic cells. Piezo proteins are associated with physiological responses in cells that have been identified in many cell types and tissues in several species where mechanosensitivity plays a major role^1,2.

Two mammalian Piezo proteins were identified, piezo1 and piezo2 encoded by the fam38A and fam38B genes recpectively². Piezo1 expression is detected in organs such as: bladder, colon, kidney, lung and skin³.

The secondary structure and general length of Piezo proteins are quite conserved among species, and seem to form homotetrameric aggregates. Each subunit comprises between 24-32 putative transmembrane domains.  The channels are constitutively active in liposomes and their activity does not require any other proteins¹.

Mechanosensitive proteins have been linked to various pathophysiological situations such as hearing and deafness, cardiac physiological and hypertrophic responses, and kidney function and disease².

Several studies have demonstrated that Piezo1 is essential for the removal of extra cells without apoptosis. Mutations in Piezo1 protein have been linked to the pathological response of red blood cells in a genetic disease called Xerocytosis. These finding suggest that Piezo1 plays a major role in cells’ responses to mechanical stimuli¹. In addition, Piezo1 plays a critical role in endothelial cell mechanotransduction which is essential for embryonic development. Knock-out model of Piezo1 affects the ability of endothelial cells to alter their alignment when exposed to shear stress. Furthermore, loss of Piezo1 in endothelial cells leads to deficits in stress fiber and cellular orientation in response to shear stress, therefore Piezo1mechanotransduction is linked to regulation of cell morphology⁴.