How the Piezo1 protein helps endothelial cells respond to stretch

Piezo1-dependence of ionic currents and Ca2+-release events in endothelial cells

Professor David Beech and colleagues at the University of Leeds have been awarded a PhD studentship to allow a young researcher to study the physical forces within blood vessels. They have shown that a protein called Piezo1, an ion channel protein, is critical for endothelial cells (that line the inside of vessels) to sense these physical forces. The researchers will explore how Piezo1 function influences the electrical properties of endothelial cells and how the protein is involved in controlling the sensitivity of endothelial cells to stretch. The research addresses the key question of how forces acting on endothelial cells determine the structure and function of blood vessels. As endothelial cell damage is one of the first changes that occur with atherosclerosis, the project will also increase our understanding of how protection arises against atherosclerosis.