Mechanosensitive PIEZO2 channels shape coronary artery development

Mireia Pampols-Perez; Carina Fürst; Oscar Sánchez-Carranza; Elena Cano; Jonathan Alexis García-Contreras; Lisa Mais; Wenhan Luo; Sandra Raimundo; Eric L. Lindberg; Martin Taube; Arnd Heuser; Anje Sporbert; Dagmar Kainmueller; Miguel O. Bernabéu; Norbert Hübner; Holger Gerhardt; Gary R. Lewin; Annette Hammes

doi:10.1038/s44161-025-00677-3

Developmental BiologyNature Cardiovascular ResearchJun 27, 2025

Peer-reviewed journal article

Mechanosensitive PIEZO2 channels shape coronary artery development

Mireia Pampols-Perez iD, Carina Fürst, Oscar Sánchez-Carranza iD, Elena Cano iD, Jonathan Alexis García-Contreras, Lisa Mais iD, Wenhan Luo iD, Sandra Raimundo iD, Eric L. Lindberg iD, Martin Taube, Arnd Heuser iD, Anje Sporbert iD, Dagmar Kainmueller iD, Miguel O. Bernabéu iD, Norbert Hübner iD, Holger Gerhardt iD, Gary R. Lewin iD, Annette Hammes iD

Abstract

The coronary arteries develop under substantial mechanical loads. However, the role of mechanosensitive ion channels has barely been addressed in this system. Here we demonstrate the expression of the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO2 in specific coronary endothelial cell populations during a crucial phase of vascular modeling. Piezo2 positive coronary endothelial cells display distinct transcriptional profiles and have mechanically activated ionic currents. Strikingly, Piezo2-/- mouse embryos and mice with human pathogenic variants of PIEZO2 display coronary vessel malformations and left ventricular hyperplasia. We conclude that an optimal balance of PIEZO2 channel function is indispensable for coronary vessel formation, integrity, and remodeling and likely for proper cardiac function.

PDF DOI