A link between "Piezo" and "cholesterol" was discovered during brain development

A new study from the University of California, Irvine, reveals how mechanical forces and tissue mechanics affect the morphology of the developing brain and establishes a direct link

The results of this study suggest that Piezo1 regulates cell number, quality, and tissue

Dr Medha Pathak, an assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at UCI School of Medicine, said: "Our surprising discovery of a link between Piezo1 and cholesterol has also advanced Piezo1's research in neurodegenerative diseases associated with cholesterol homeostasis, such as Alzheimer's disease

Neurodevelopment is a multi-step process that involves the coordination of many complex events to produce the brain and spinal cord

"We previously found that in human fetal brain-derived neural stem/progenitor cells, the Piezo1 channel is activated in response to external application and the mechanical force generated by the cell, and now we show in the current study that 'Piezo1 is important for the normal development of the brain,' said

Previous studies have identified the role played by the Piezo1 family of mechanically activated ion channels in many physiological systems, including angiogenesis, cardiovascular homeostasis, lymphodesis, volume regulation of erythrocytes, stress receptor responses in neurons, cartilage mechanics, bone formation, macrophage polarization responses, keratinocyte migration in wound healing, and neural stem cell fate

"Improper brain development can lead to lifelong deformities and dysfunction," Pattak said

Pathak and her research team are continuing to explore the Piezo1 ceramic and its effects

The study was funded

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Piezo1 regulates cholesterol biosynthesis to influence neural stem cell fate during brain development