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  • Mechanosensation by endothelial PIEZO1 is required for leukocyte diapedesis.

Mechanosensation by endothelial PIEZO1 is required for leukocyte diapedesis.

Blood (2022-04-21)
ShengPeng Wang, Bianbian Wang, Yue Shi, Tanja Möller, Rebekka I Stegmeyer, Boris Strilic, Ting Li, Zuyi Yuan, Changhe Wang, Nina Wettschureck, Dietmar Vestweber, Stefan Offermanns
ABSTRACT

The extravasation of leukocytes is a critical step during inflammation that requires the localized opening of the endothelial barrier. This process is initiated by the close interaction of leukocytes with various adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1 on the surface of endothelial cells. Here we reveal that mechanical forces generated by leukocyte-induced clustering of ICAM-1 synergize with fluid shear stress exerted by the flowing blood to increase endothelial plasma membrane tension and to activate the mechanosensitive cation channel PIEZO1. This leads to increases in [Ca2+]i and activation of downstream signaling events including phosphorylation of tyrosine kinases sarcoma (SRC) and protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2), as well as of myosin light chain, resulting in opening of the endothelial barrier. Mice with endothelium-specific Piezo1 deficiency show decreased leukocyte extravasation in different inflammation models. Thus, leukocytes and the hemodynamic microenvironment synergize to mechanically activate endothelial PIEZO1 and subsequent downstream signaling to initiate leukocyte diapedesis.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
PF-431396 hydrate, ≥98% (HPLC)
Sigma-Aldrich
(−)-Blebbistatin, solid, synthetic
Sigma-Aldrich
Cytochalasin D, from Zygosporium mansonii, ≥98% (TLC and HPLC), powder
Sigma-Aldrich
PP2, InSolution, ≥95%, 10 mM, reversible ATP-competitive inhibitor of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases