The role of Piezo1 and Piezo2 proteins in tissue engineering: A Comprehensive review

Abstract

Almost every life form, from the tiniest bacterium to humans, is mechanosensitive, implying it can use mechanical stresses to trigger certain physiological responses in the form of electric signals. Mechanotransduction largely relies on ion channels that respond to mechanical forces, such as the epithelial sodium channels/degenerins, transient receptor potential channel, and the two-pore domain potassium channel. Piezo1 and Piezo2 proteins were discovered to be the biggest non-selective mechanosensitive cation channels in the cell membrane. A substantial amount of research has previously been published on the Piezo channel's function in touch sensation, balance, and cardiovascular regression. However, the mechanistic perspective must be refined to fully understand the role of Piezo proteins in tissue engineering. This review centers on the latest insights into the structure of Piezo channels, activation mechanisms, and its interactions with cytoskeletal components, by emphasizing the physiological activities of Piezo channels in different tissues. The study also places focus on the possibilities of targeting this cation channel family as a tissue regeneration aid.