Does a protein called Piezo1 regulate adverse structural remodelling of the heart?

Investigating the role and regulation of the Piezo1 mechanosensitive cation channel in cardiac fibroblasts

Cardiac remodelling refers to changes in the size, shape, and pumping ability of the heart. It can occur in response to sustained mechanical stress e.g. during chronic high blood pressure when the heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body. Cardiac remodelling can lead to heart failure – when the heart can no longer pump blood around the body effectively. Heart cells called cardiac fibroblasts play a critical role in structural remodelling of the heart in response to damage or mechanical stress. Dr Neil Turner of the University of Leeds has recently shown that a mechanically-activated protein called Piezo1 is present in cardiac fibroblasts. It’s been shown that activation is linked to the release of a protein called interleukin-6 that can induce cardiac remodelling. Dr Turner will now lead a project to determine if and how Piezo1 contributes to structural remodelling of the heart caused by chronic high blood pressure. Specifically, the researchers plan to assess how activation of Piezo1 affects signals and changes the function of human and mice cardiac fibroblasts. They will also assess the role of Piezo1 in cardiac remodelling by studying genetically-engineered mice whose cardiac fibroblasts do not produce this protein. This research could establish Piezo1 as a target for new therapies to prevent the heart remodelling associated with high blood pressure, and the onset of heart failure.