Stretch-Activated Piezo1 Channel in Endothelial Cells Relaxes Mouse Intrapulmonary Arteries

What is it about?

Endothelial cells (EC) respond to mechanical stimuli due to blood flow and pressure by releasing vasoactive factors to set the vascular tone. Piezo1, a stretch-activated calcium permeable channel is a sensor of mechanical stress. EC expressed Piezo1 channels. Activation of Piezo1 induced a calcium influx inducing NO production that induced an endothelium-dependent relaxation. Function of Piezo1 channels was not altered during pulmonary hypertension, the main pathology of pulmonary artery and deletion of this channel did not impair the development of the disease. Piezo1 contributes to the control of intrapulmonary vascular tone

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